Born in Belgium in 1959, Jean-Michel Charlier graduated with high honors in clarinet and chamber music from the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music. He then perfected with Guy Deplus (Paris), and Walter Boeykens (Antwerp).
Member of the Orchestre Symphonique de la Monnaie during 5 years, he has been solo clarinet of the Belgium National Orchestra since 1985.
He gives concerts and recitals both in Belgium and abroad (France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, …) some of them have been the subject of television and radio broadcasts (RTBF, VRT, BRF, France Music …). He regularly collaborates with various well-known chamber ensembles such as the Danel Quartet, the Zemlinsky Quartet, the Ysaÿe Ensemble, Piacevole, Oxalys, Musiques Nouvelles ensemble as well as various formations within the Belgium National Orchestra.
Several composers have entrusted him with the creation of their works, including Benoît Mernier, Hao-Fu Zhang, Dirk d’Haese, Daniel Capelletti, Jean-Marie Bardèche, Sergio Montori, Emmar Lampson, Jean-Luc Fafchamps, Pierre Bartholomée, Andreas Scartazzini … without forgetting his constant desire to revive many masterpieces from the Belgian repertoire. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has recorded up to now 9 CDs (Cypres, Calliope, Fuga Libera, Kalidisk, Naxos), one of which won the Charles Cros Record Academy Grand Prix. Professor of clarinet at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music until 2003, Jean-Michel Charlier regularly gives internships and master classes in Belgium, France and Spain. In 2002, he won the Fuga prize for the promotion and diffusion of Belgian music with Philippe Terseleer, pianist.