About Duo BoMi
A pianist from Québec. A pianist from the Middle East.
The Origin of Duo BoMi
Duo BoMi was born in the midst of the pandemic, when time stood still and the world needed comfort. Driven by a desire to share their music with as many people as possible, the duo turned to recording videos, and the response was beyond their expectations.
Their acclaimed video series, "100 Years of Piazzolla," pays tribute to the centenary of the legendary Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla and has received significant recognition. Duo BoMi's exceptional artistry has been formally acknowledged with the prestigious International Clara Schumann Competition award in the Professional Four-Hand Piano category.
As their duo project evolved, it was very natural to explore Middle-Eastern repertoire. For Boran, it was essential to reconnect with her roots, to confront her past and to tell her story as a woman who navigated the challenges of making music in that part of the world, and to tell a story of courage and hope as an immigrant in Canada. This gave the duo a distinct musical voice, and brought Michel closer to Boran's culture and heritage.
Boran Zaza
Kurdish/Canadian Pianist
"One of the most talented and motivated musicians to come out of the Kurdistan region of Iraq." — Paul MacAlindin, Conductor and Author
A committed lifelong learner who fluently communicates in seven languages and dialects, Boran Zaza is a Kurdish/Canadian pianist who holds degrees in piano, music education and musicology from top institutions in Iraq, Lebanon and Canada, and has most recently graduated from the prestigious Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Boran's professional musical engagements have led her to perform in reputable venues in Canada, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Dubai, Italy and the USA. Her piano performances have been acclaimed by the press as "dramatic and full of vivid emotion" — Arts and Culture Today.
Growing up in Iraq, Boran was a pianist and percussionist of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, and hosted her own classical music radio program called "Behind the Music", which was the first radio program dedicated to classical music in the country.
Currently based in Rimouski, Québec, Boran was the General Manager of the Oasis Musicale Concert Series and the Marketing Manager of the Orchestre classique de Montréal. She is currently Director of Communications and Development at Orchestras Canada. In 2022, she founded "The Zaza Award for the Best Interpretation of a work by a Female Composer", which was presented as part of the Stepping Stone division of the Canadian Music Competition, and the Zaza Prize for promoting the works of female composers, presented annually at the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski.
Michel-Alexandre Broekaert
Québécois Pianist & Pedagogue
"He is an excellent listener and has a remarkable touch. In his hands, the music breathes and blossoms." — Revue Opéra
Michel-Alexandre Broekaert is one of the most sought-after pianists on the Canadian music scene. Passionate about chamber music, he divides his time between the instrumental repertoire and the world of opera and mélodie with equal pleasure. In the last years, he developed the Duo BoMi with pianist Boran Zaza, a piano four-hand ensemble that's on a mission to explore exotic and never-heard-before repertoire.
Michel-Alexandre toured several times with leading Canadian arts organizations such as Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Debut Atlantic, and Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques. He has been invited to collaborate with such illustrious organizations as the Canadian Vocal Arts Institute, Opéra de Montréal, the OSM Competition, Festival del Lago in Mexico and the Heifetz Institute in the U.S. His recent engagements include an Opera Gala tour in China in Autumn 2024 with the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques.
He is a prizewinner of numerous national and international competitions, including the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition, the Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Piano and Voice Competition (Paris), and the Récital-Concours International de mélodies françaises du Festival Classica (Best Collaborative Pianist Award). Dr. Broekaert holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance from the Université de Montréal, and since 2023, he is a faculty member of piano and accompaniment at the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski.
Photos: Tam Photography