The music of pianist/composer Michiel Borstlap has been described as lyrical, classical, ambient, contemporary and above all touching.
Borstlap himself is a classically trained musician. His family history includes his great-uncle who was a famous choir conductor, his father who is a composer, his mother who plays classical piano and sister who plays both piano & violin.
Born in The Hague (1966), the pianist and composer Michiel Borstlap trained at the Conservatory in Hilversum, and in the many clubs and festivals he played from a very young age.
Borstlap’s music began to acquire its own character towards the end of the 1990’s, as he changed elements descend from jazz and blues music. Around this time he won several international awards, most notably the Thelonious Monk/BMI Composers Award in the US. His winning composition was recorded by Herbie Hancock & Wayne Shorter on their official release 1 1 (Verve/Universal). In 2001 Universal released his album Gramercy Park, featuring his rendition to Chopin's first Scherzo. Opera Avicenna, commissioned by the Emir of Qatar (2003), was a turning point in Michiel Borstlap’s career – his first real work as a composer. A three hour opus magnum which had to be composed in less than one month. The worldpremieres in the capital were a success and billed as the world's first Opera about the arabic culture.
In 2008 Michiel Borstlap composed his first soundtrack for the Dutch movie ‘Tiramisu’. The score received a Golden Calf, the grand prize of dutch film industry.
Throughout the years Michiel Borstlap had the honor to perform with such great artists such as Pat Metheny, Bill Bruford, Janine Jansen, Les Paul, Jeff Tain Watts, and Peter Erskine. He also performed extensively with great popsingers like Gino Vannelli, Trijntje Oosterhuis & Edsilia Rombley, and performed as soloist with the Metropole Orchestra.
In 2010 Michiel Borstlap released his solo album SOLO 2010. The album reached the dutch Album Top 20 Chart.
The album meant a new realization. ‘After playing with many incredible artists, the solo stage was like coming home. My love for the piano is very strong, and a need to communicate strong emotional feelings developed. For the album Blue (Songs from Father to Daughter) I composed truly songs, with a more pop/folk structure. I always loved the great songs which the pop & folk music gave us'.