Manu Comté started learning music at the age of 7 with the accordion of his father. Granted with a higher diploma for accordion and a first price for chamber music at the Royal Academy of Mons (Belgium), both magna cum laude, Manu Comté was also awarded with a first price at the “Lili and Nadia Boulanger” Academy in Paris. He then graduated from the Superior Institute of Music of Namur (Belgium) in musical pedagogy. Prize winner of many contests in Belgium and abroad, Manu Comté continued his studies with professors and pedagogues Jacques Mornet (Auvergne) and Frederic Deschamps (Paris), among others, and followed masterclasses in France and Italy with Richard Galliano. Manu Comté devotes a great part of his activity to the practice of the Bandoneon, under the advices of Alfredo Marcucci. Passionate by the work of Astor Piazzolla, he founded in 1995 the Soledad Ensemble (accordion/bandoneon, violin, piano, guitar, double bass), whose fame became rapidly international. Today, Manu Comté performs throughout the world (France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Brasil, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, Lebanon, Argentina…) as a member of various ensembles and as soloist in a wide range of repertoires; from Tango Nuevo to contemporary music, from jazz to French songwriting. His musical activities are shared between performances, composition and arrangements for the stage. It was at the age of 7 that he began his apprenticeship with his father’s accordion. At 14, Manu County discovers the classic accordion. His musical studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Mons (Belgium) are rewarded with a Higher Accordion Diploma and a 1st prize in chamber music, both awarded with the highest distinctions and congratulations from the jury. He then obtained a first prize from the city of Paris (France) with the greatest distinction and the congratulations of the jury at the “Lili et Nadia Boulanger” Conservatory (Paris IX). He is also a graduate of the Higher Institute of Music and Pedagogy of Namur (Belgium), music pedagogy section. The composition of original music and the creation of music or arrangements for theater, cinema, …are also part of his musical activity. Manu Comté has won numerous competitions in Belgium (Axion Classics competition, televised competition “young soloists” from RTBF, …) and abroad (competition “young soloists” from European regions, World Trophies accordion in Germany and Italy, …) . It was during the preparation of these competitions that he worked with teachers and pedagogues such as, Jacques Mornet (cnima), Frédéric Deschamps (Paris), … He participated in Jazz Mastersclasses with Richard Galliano in France (1998) and in Italy ( 2007). He also devoted himself to the practice of the bandoneon under the wise advice of Alfredo Marcucci, a famous Argentine bandoneonist.Passionate about the work of Astor Piazzolla, he founded in 1995 “Soledad” (accordion / bandoneon, violin, piano, guitar, double bass), whose renown is today international. Soledad performs on the biggest stages of the world like, the Santory Hall of Tokyo, the festival of La Roque d’Anthéron, the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, the Palais des festivals in Cannes, the Montreal Jazz festival, the New Morning in Paris, the Miami Chamber Music Festival, the Palais des Congrès de Paris, the Lugano Festival, FLAGEY, BOZAR, … This year Soledad celebrates its 20 years as a trio, a homecoming in an intimate and prestigious guests.Manu Comté has participated in numerous concerts and festivals as a chamber musician and soloist (France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, United States , Lebanon, Norway, …), in eclectic repertoires ranging from tango nuevo to contemporary music through jazz and French song. This year Manu Comté will give concerts, notably in Belgium, France, Italy, and for the first time in 2015 in Argentina with Gerardo Jerez Le Cam and the “National Symphonic Orchestra of Argentina”, …