12:10 PM

Laureates: Michael Bridge, accordion, DMA Competition Winner 2020

Thursdays at Noon

Michael Bridge is a musical maverick. He’s a virtuoso performer on both the acoustic accordion and its 21st century cousin, the digital accordion. His concerts capture the energy and panache of stadium rock with the elegance and discipline of chamber music.

Bridge received his doctorate in accordion performance from the University of Toronto in 2023, studying with Joseph Macerollo. He’s won a slew of competitions in Canada and abroad and was named one of CBC’s 30 under 30 classical musicians. He gives over 100 concerts a year as a soloist and as a member of Bridge & Wolak and Ladom Ensemble. He’s in high demand for masterclasses around the world.

Dr. Bridge embraces a musical aesthetic that is alternatively irreverent, deadly serious, meticulously prepared and completely in-the-moment. He’s at home with classical, contemporary, jazz and folk music and has premiered 53 new works. Ultimately, he aims to make your world more bearable, beautiful and human—even if only for the length of a concert. 

Program (PDF)

In person: Walter Hall, 80 Queen's Park, Toronto / Livestream: Faculty of Music YouTube

FREE

The Thursdays at Noon series is made possible in part by the Jay Telfer Forum Endowment Fund. 

2023-2024 Thursdays at Noon series:
Sep 21: Brass at Noon! (Nimrod Ron, tuba - postponed)
Sep 28: Laureates: Michael Bridge, accordion
Oct 12: Patricia Caicedo, soprano
Oct 19: Laureates: Helen Becqué, piano
Oct 26: Fabrice Millischer with Trombone Choir
Nov 23: Collegium Musicium
Nov 30: The Diverse Clarinet
Jan 18: Laureates: Innovators featuring Jonah Nung, piano; Katya Poplyansky, violin; Chihiro Yasufuku, soprano
Feb 1: UTNMF: Joseph Petric + Penderecki String Quartet, part 1
Feb 15: Laureates: Irene R Miller Chamber Music Fellows
Feb 29: Laureates: Small Jazz Ensembles
Mar 21: Laureates: Norcop and Koldofsky Prize Winners' Recital
Mar 28: Laureates: Galimir Award Winner