Catherine Michel is a renowned French harpist. Born in Amiens, she studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur in Paris and was awarded prizes at several international harp competitions. In 1971, she joined the Orchestre National de France. During this time, she made her first LPs for Phillips and Vox, recording harp concertos and solo works by Castelnuovo Tedesco, Glière, Reinecke, Rodrigo and Villa Lobos. In 1978, she was appointed as principal harpist in Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris where she performed under legendary conductors such as Bernstein, Boulez, Celibidache, Maazel, Ozawa and Rostropovitch. Her career as an international soloist includes engagements with the Luxembourg Radio Orchestra, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. Catherine Michel has also worked in film music and with jazz band through her successful collaborations with Michel Legrand. Together they toured to major concert halls in Europe, Asia and the USA. Known for her strong commitment to pedagogy, Catherine Michel has discovered and published numerous works, methods and exercises for harp written by some of the most prominent harpists of the 18th and 19th centuries. Her recordings are extensive and have been awarded prestigious accolades including the Grand Prize de l’Académie du Disque, the Grand Prix SACEM, le Prix Découverte Radio France, les Victoires de la Musique and the 5 Diapasons.