Michael Massey has been a fixture in Edmonton’s classical music scene for 50 years. An accomplished and versatile musician, Michael is a pianist, a conductor, an orchestrator, a composer, and a teacher.  Since 1977 Michael has been the music director/conductor of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra Programme, inspiring thousands of young musicians.

 

Michael was born in London, England. At age 12, he moved with his family to Canada and started a new life in Edmonton. Two years later, he began formal piano studies under Jean-Pierre Vetter, developing as a musician and appreciating the power of a good teacher. After earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alberta under the guidance of Professor Alexandra Munn, Michael moved to Switzerland, spending two years at the Geneva Conservatory studying with the renowned pedagogue, Louis Hiltbrand, where he was awarded the Premier Prix de Virtuosité and performed twice as soloist with L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Michael would go on to establish himself as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician throughout Canada.

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He has been an active piano teacher through his home studio.  He has also performed as a soloist and, as an accompanist, having worked with many major performing artists from Canada and abroad.  

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In 2002 Michael was inducted into Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal. In 2016, for his long service to the Province, he was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence. In 2017 he received the Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award from the City of St. Albert’s “Mayor's Celebration of the Arts.” In 2019 Michael became the Honorary Patron of the St. Albert Rotary Music Festival and in 2020 received the Alberta Music Education Foundation Recognition Award.  December 2022 Michael Massey was appointed to the Order of Canada for his "consummate dedication to youth orchestras, and for his transformational mentorship of generations of Canadian musicians".