ABOUT
photo by Darrah Parker
Michael Owcharuk is a composer, pianist, accordionist, and educator living and working in Seattle, WA. He leads the Owcharuk 5, co-directs the Seattle Jazz Composer’s Ensemble, is a member of Tango Ahora!, Le Trio, Slaughterhouse 3, and is currently developing a quartet to perform music from his 2011 Tune A Day Project.
Michael enjoys working as a collaborator, solo pianist/accordionist, sideman, arranger, and ballet accompanist, creating music in a number of genres including but not limited to: jazz, new music, classical, Ukrainian folk, experimental, rock, pop, hip hop, world music, and music for theater and for dance. He has performed and collaborated with musicians such as Amy Denio, Beth Fleenor, Craig Flory, Chad McCullough, Byron Vannoy, Chris Stover, Sarah Rudinoff, Samantha Boshnack, Jason Parker, Jherek Bischoff, Evan Flory-Barnes and Adam Kessler.
As a composer, Michael has recorded 3 full-length albums of his own work, and has had his compositions performed by The Seattle Chamber Players, The Jim Knapp Big Band, The Esoterics, the St. Helen’s String Quartet, the Seattle Jazz Composer’s Ensemble, The Bella Trio, and The Lakeside Middle School Orchestra.
He holds a Bachelor of Music from Cornish College of the Arts, where he studied composition with Bern Herbolsheimer and piano with Jovino Santos Neto. Michael has been awarded grants for his music projects from 4Culture, tThe Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Jack Straw Foundation. He and his music have been featured on/at: NPR, Bumbershoot, Dimitrious’ Jazz Alley, The Crocodile, Tula’s, Composer’s Spotlight produced by Jack Straw Productions, Seattle Improv Theater Festival, Jazz the 2nd Century presented by Earshot Jazz, Sounds Outside, 14/48 The World’s Quickest Theater Festival, Sonarchy Radio 91.3 KEXP, and many venues, restaurants, homes, and concert halls in the Pacific Northwest.
“A fresh voice on the scene.” – The Stranger, Seattle, WA
“Among the region’s most promising younger jazzmen.” – Earshot Jazz, Seattle, WA
