Born in Edmonton, Michelle Marie Santiago began her music studies at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music (Early Childhood Program) in 1984. She was accepted into the piano studio of Dr. Ernesto Lejano in 1993. Michelle received her ARCT Diploma (Piano Performance) from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) in 1998 and a Bachelor of Music with distinction from the University of Alberta in 2003. In 2005, she received a Master of Music from the Université de Montréal where she is currently, pursuing doctoral studies with Marc Durand and Paul Stewart. She has also studied with John Perry at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Aspen, Colorado and with Julian Martin at the Banff Centre for the Arts. In addition, she has participated in master classes with world-renowned performers and pedagogues such as Angela Cheng, Anton Kuerti, Thomas Schumacher and Kyoko Hashimoto. Michelle has also had the privilege of working with Jacques Desprès, Joachim Segger, Jean-David Coen and Antoinette Perry.

Michelle won the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in 1999 and is also a prizewinner at the Edmonton Kiwanis, Alberta Provincial Music Festivals, ARMTA/AMEF Provincial and the CFMTA National Piano Competitions, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Competition, as well as a national finalist at the Canadian Music Competitions. She is a recipient of numerous prizes and scholarships including Winspear Foundation/Edmonton Community Development Fund Study Grants, Anne Burrows Foundation for Young Musicians Scholarships and Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grants.

Michelle has appeared in various recitals and performances in Canada, the United States and the Philippines. For upcoming concert news, please visit www.mmsantiago.com

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