Pianist · Composer
MichielBorstlap
Award-winning jazz, neoclassical & cinematic music.
More than thirty albums, performances in ninety-two countries, and a composer's voice described as distinctly architectural.
Award-winning jazz, neoclassical & cinematic music.
More than thirty albums, performances in ninety-two countries, and a composer's voice described as distinctly architectural.
One of Europe's leading jazz pianists and a composer with a distinctly architectural voice — moving fluidly between jazz, neoclassical, cinematic and improvised music.
Michiel Borstlap graduated cum laude from the Conservatory before winning First Prize at the Europe Jazz Piano Competition and, later, the Thelonious Monk Award for Composition in Washington, D.C. In the Netherlands he received both an Edison Award and a Gouden Kalf for his film score Tiramisu.
His international career led to collaborations with some of the most influential figures in contemporary music, among them Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Peter Erskine, Bill Bruford, Les Paul and Kurt Elling — encounters that shaped his reputation not only as a virtuoso pianist, but as a composer with a singular lyrical signature.
He has performed in ninety-two countries, appeared repeatedly at the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and collaborated with the Metropole Orkest and the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. His discography spans more than thirty albums — from intimate solo recordings to trio, sextet and large-ensemble projects — with compositions such as Water, Levantine and Memory of Enchantment exemplifying his voice. He is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
From solo piano to symphonic stages — a single continuous line: music as structure, atmosphere and human signature.
His music has entered the Dutch Top 40 and extended into interdisciplinary work and international campaigns with houses such as IWC Schaffhausen, Cadillac, United Airlines and Tommy Hilfiger — always maintaining artistic integrity while carrying his music into new contexts.
A curated music network for retail and hospitality that reframes background music as a designed, emotionally intelligent experience — combining human musical expertise with proprietary technology for high-end clients worldwide.
galleryplay.comA deep-tech company in Amsterdam and Houston, born from the intersection of music and technology — a real-time system that mirrors human expressive prosody while preserving musical authorship. A continuation of one question: how sound carries presence.
intono.aiFrom solo recitals to orchestral programmes and intimate private performances — enquiries are welcome.