biography_biographie
Michele Choiniere was born into a musical Franco-American family in northern Vermont, and from an early age performed traditional Franco-American music with her father Fabio, an accomplished harmonica player. In 1995, she began writing and composing her own songs and has performed to audiences throughout New England, Quebec and France. Her lyrics and music focus on nature, romance and social issues connected to being Franco-American. She has been featured on TV5 International's "Visions d'Amerique," which was broadcast to francophone nations worldwide, as well as on Vermont Public Television's "Rural Delivery" and has recorded an archival family collection of Franco-American music with her father. She is featured on the Smithsonian Folkways CD "Mademoiselle Voulez-Vous Danser: Franco-American music from the New England Borderlands" released in 1999. In 2003, Michele self-released her debut solo album, Coeur Fragile, which was recognized as one of the top ten Vermont albums of the year for 2003 by Seven Days newspaper. Michele regularly plays with Montreal-based musicians Sabin Jacques (accordion) and Rachel Aucoin (piano)(formerly of Domino) and Vermont musicians Will Patton (mandolin), Dono Schabner (guitar) and David Gusakov (fiddle). Michele's performances blend traditional Franco-American and Quebec folk songs, original compositions, jazz standards, and covers of well-known artists (e.g. Edith Piaf).
Michelle with Governor Douglas at the Vermont State House.
David Gusakov's lifetime career as a violinist has ranged from classical, as a member of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra since 1973, to hard driving Bluegrass with Pine Island and Banjo Dan & The Midnight Plowboys. He has performed with such luminaries as Vassar Clemens, Emmylou Harris, Peter Rowan and John Denver. Born in the heartland of America, Gusakov has travelled the world with his fiddle as his passport, and currently teaches music in his Bristol studio.
Will Patton, mandolinist and all around string wizard, is also well known for his fine bass playing. He draws a strong influence from jazz, Gypsy, and Brazilian music. His collaborations with the manouche guitarist Ninine Garcia from Paris, documented in the CDs Peripherique and String Theory have been enthusiastically reviewd both in the U.S. and abroad. He teaches jazz mandolin at Jay Ungar and Molly Mason's Ashokan Camp and the Django in June Festival at Smith College. He has performed with Mosa Allison and his bands have opened for such acts as Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt and Van Morrison.
Dono Schabner was born in Germany, but grew up in Pennsylvania and Long Island, NY. He started playing professional guitar at age 12 with Italian wedding bands. At 17, he hit the road to play R&B around the US, Caribbean, and elsewhere. After time, Dono decided he needed a break from the road and he went back to school to become a special educator. In 2000, Dono moved to Vermont, where he met his beautiful wife Lauren. In his day job, Dono works in education in northern Vermont, while playing a mean swing guitar at every other opportunity. He is grateful to his mother, who introduced him to good music at a very early age.
performance highlights_réalisations
Ottawa, ON - Rasputin's Folk Cafe, Feb., 2007.
Syracuse, NY - FolkUs Second Saturday Concert, Jan, 2007.
First Night Burlington, Dec 31, 2006.
American Folk Festival, Bangor, Maine, August, 2006, with Sabin Jacques, Rachel Aucoin, and Fabio Choiniere.
Grand Isle Lakehouse, Grand Isle, Vermont, July, 2006, with Will Patton, Dono Schabner, and David Gusakov.
The Paramount Theatre, Rutland, Vermont, February, 2006, with Will Patton, Dono Schabner, and David Gusakov.
The Black Door, Montpelier, Vermont, December, 2005, with Will Patton and Dono Schabner.
Grand Isle Lake House, Grand Isle, Vermont, August, 2005, with Sabin Jacques and Rachel Aucoin
La Kermesse Franco Festival, Biddeford, Maine, June, 2005, with Sabin and Rachel
Franco Music workshop at Williston Central School, March, 2005, with Benoit Bourque (of Le Vent du Nord), Sabin, and Rachel
First Congregational Church (part of First Night Burlington, 2005), Dec. 31, 2004, with Sabin and Rachel
Vermont Public Radio's "All the Traditions" program, live recorded performance on Dec. 26, 2004, with Deb Flanders
St. Albans Historical Society, December, 2004, with Deb Flanders
Champlain Valley Folk Festival, July, 2004, performance workshop with Les Charbonniers de L'Enfer, concert with Sabin and Rachel, and concert with Deb Flanders sponsored in part by the Vermont Folk Life Center
Flynn Theatre Main Stage performance, December, 2003, with Canadian Juno Award-Winners Le Vent du Nord
Enosburg Opera House, November, 2003, with Le Vent du Nord
First Night Burlington Festivals, Burlington, Vermont
Flynn Theatre, Burlington, VT and Lebanon Opera House, NH with La Danse
des Enfants.
Festival folklorique de Tadoussac, Tadoussac, Quebec, Canada
The Opera House at Enosburg Falls, Enosburg, Vermont
Old West Church Calais VT Concert Series
Champlain Valley Folk Festival, Burlington, Vermont
Vermont Historical Society celebrations and Expo 2000, Montpelier/Tunbridge,
Vermont
Manchester, NH Historical Society soirées
Nashua, NH French Heritage celebrations
Live Art at the Wood Concert Series, Vermont College, Montpelier, Vermont
Grace Church Concert Series, Sheldon, Vermont
Ethan Allen Homestead Festivals, Burlington, Vermont
New World Festival, Randolph, Vermont
Michèle has been a visiting artist at various
schools in Vermont :
Williston Central School, Georgia Elem/Middle School, Mt. Mansfield UHS, BFA St. Albans HS, CP
Smith Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Barnes Elementary
School.
media
Dirty Linen Magazine, #125 - August/September, 2006.
Le Forum magazine, v. 31, #1 and #2. Spring/Summer, 2006. Centre Franco-American, Universite du Maine.
Seven Days Newspaper, February, 2006
Burlington Free Press, March 30, 2005
Williston Observer, April 7, 2005
Seven Days Newspaper, December, 2003
Vermont Life Magazine, Spring 2003
The Montreal Gazette, December 2002
Yankee Magazine, 2001.
honors
She was accepted into the Vermont Arts Council Register of Juried Artists
in the Fall of 2001.