Michael Cretu is an internationally recognised musician and composer, whose family has a long musical tradition dating back to the 17th Century. Born in Bucharest, Romania Michael has been playing the double bass since he was 12. At the age of 19, he joined the Romanian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Michael studied music at George Enescu Music School in Bucharest and he won a scholarship to complete his postgraduate studies with Duncan McTier at the Royal Northern College in Manchester.

In 2011, Michael premiered his new septet at the Romanian Institute of Culture in London, and his new solo double bass piece at the Romanian Institute of Culture in Paris. He performed his solo pieces at the Royal Academy of Music and King’s Place, London. He composed the music for Thrasher, a new play that sold out at The Royal Exchange, Manchester and Camden People’s Theatre, London. Michael also performed two recitals at The Royal Exchange, Manchester and one at The Royal Northern College of Music. He played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won strong praise and positive reviews for his performances.

Michael regularly works as a classical and jazz double bassist, composer and musical director. He has performed as a solo, chamber, orchestral and jazz musician across Europe and South America, touring Holland, Spain, Brazil and Great Britain with violinist Cristina Anghelescu. Michael is currently composing and performing as part of a chamber group, funded by the European Union to promote the work of contemporary classical composers. The project includes performances in London, Paris, and Bucharest.

Since 2014 Michael is the musical director for the Manchester International Roots Orchestra, formed by RNCM and North West Community Arts.

As a composer, Michael was commissioned by the Bucharest Conservatoire to write a solo piece for the Josef Prunner International Double Bass Competition. Among his major works are: Eight Steps to Eternity; Homeland;and The Wolf, the Bear and the Shepherd.Michael also transcribed and recorded Paganini’s Violin Capriccio Number 24for the Double Bass and is currently working with a touring theatre company as a composer and solo bassist. His compositions are published by Liben Music Publishers, Cincinnati, USA and Recital Music, UK.

In 2013 Michael composed the music for a Romanian National Radio show, for this work he was a finalist and nominated for a prize in the European Broadcasting Copmetition and Festival!