Michiel Borstlap
Pianist, Composer & Founder of Gallery Play Media
Bearleader in Music
About Michiel
Bearleader in | Music
Home town | Amsterdam & Nigtevecht
About | Michiel Borstlap is a world-renowned pianist and composer who played concerts in more than 90 countries. Born in the Hague in 1966, Michiel finished the Conservatorium in Hilversum in 1992. He immediately won several awards both as a composer and as a pianist. He has continued to do so since. Michiel is father to daughter Blue.
Aside from performing and composing, he also founded Gallery Play Media; a company focused on providing the best background music for public spaces with a list of prestigious clients. He is a member of Academie van Kunsten (KNAW) and an ambassador for IWC Watches and Steinway & Sons Pianos.
Profession | Jazzpianist, Composer and Founder of Gallery Play Media
Achievements | Michiel has collaborated with many legendary jazz, pop and classic artists. From Herbie Hancock, Gino Vannelli, Bill Bruford, DJ Joris Voorn, Janine Jansen to Ludovico Einaudi.
He has been a soloist with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Kiev Soloists, the Metropole Orchestra and has collaborated with conductors such as Vince Mendoza and Lawrence Renes. He has released 28 albums, which get 340.000 monthly listeners on Spotify. He was commissioned to write the world’s first Arabic opera for Qatar and has done several major sponsorship deals.
He is considered a tastemaker not just in the music scene but also in the fashion world. He was awarded as runner-up for Best Dressed Man by Esquire, and many known brands collaborate with him.
Instagram | @michielborstlap
LinkedIn | Michiel Borstlap
Guides by Michiel
GUIDE | By the Bearleaders
Enjoy this list of the very best restaurants for every occasion that Amsterdam has to offer, selected by tastemakers such as artists, designers and Michelin chefs who visit Amsterdam regularly or live there. From guilty pleasures to haute cuisine, from Mediterranean to Asian, Amsterdam has it all.