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).

Rachel Aucoin, in spite of a strictly classical training, has always been drawn to traditional music through her Acadian heritage, and is today considered one of the best québécois-style accompanists. She has recorded with Domino, québécois artists Francine Desjardins and Jean Duval, and American fiddler Laura Risk. She is known for her percussive, colorful and sensitive style, as well as for her second passion: teaching.

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.

Sabin Jacques is widely regarded as one of Québec's top accordionists. He has played the accordion since the age of 14 and has developed a unique, left-handed style. Originally from the Gaspé peninsula, he has played internationally at innumerable festivals as a member of Domino and other formations. He also appears on many recordings (Montmarquette, Les pieds qui parlent, Domino), including some of pop\folk-singers such as Edith Butler.

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.