"Østergaard-Nielsen cites influences like Paul Motian and Jon Christensen, and that lineage is audible in her approach - not in imitation, but in philosophy." - Jazz Views, UK (2025)
Michala Østergaard-Nielsen, award-winning drummer/percussionist and composer, lives in Tisvilde, a small Village near Copenhagen.
Michala is a highly interesting musician with a personal voice on the nordic music scene today and is described as "having an almost zen-like attitude towards drumming, improvisation and music”.
Michala Østergaard-Nielsen was born on September 26, 1974, in Vordingborg, Denmark. She began playing the piano at the age of 6 - first classical music, then jazz - and attended MGK (Musical Basic Course/preparatory course for Music Conservatory) in Nykøbing F. (1992-1995) focusing on rhythmic piano. At the age of 20, Michala took up drums as a secondary instrument during her third year at MGK, ultimately making it her primary instrument.
Artistic Education includes:
Advance Postgraduate Diploma programme in composition at RMC (The Rhythmic Music Conservatory) (2020-2022)
Master's degree in drumming/musician from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (2004-2006) and Malmö Academy of Music (2006-2009)
Her studies have primarily focused on jazz and improvisation, along with various modern classical composition techniques.
Michala is to be heard in the fields of jazz and improvisation, modern art-projects, electronica and indie-music, both as a bandleader, collective-leader and sidewoman. In 2018, Michala Østergaard-Nielsen became the first Danish artist to receive Sweden’s most prestigious jazz award, “Jazzkannan”, which is given to musicians who have made innovative contributions to jazz:“This year’s Jazzkannan goes to a spiritual and sensitive composer and musician, whose universe is full of poetic vibrations that create instant love.” (Full jury motivation below). That same year, she was also nominated by Swedish Radio for the Jazzkatten award in the category “Musician of the Year”.
In April 2025, she released her debut album “The Cave” with American pianist Marilyn Crispell and Swedish bassist Thommy Andersson on the Danish label ILK Music.The album received international recognition, including ★★★★ - All About Jazz (US): “One of the most beautiful expanses of eleven minutes ever recorded.”
In 2020, the world-renowned drummer Ra-Kalam Bob Moses included her on his list of favorite drummers:
“As a child I grew up in the same building as Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. I also heard up close Roy Haynes, Edgar Bateman, Rashied Ali, Pete La Roca, Milford Graves, Billy Higgins, Tony Williams, Ed Blackwell and many other greats. So I don't use the term great drummer too loosely. Here is a very partial list of some great, extraordinarily creative, visionary drummer/percussionists from all over the globe, that inspire me to keep evolving and go deeper on my instrument. I encourage you to check these people out and show them some appreciation and respect while they are still here: Billy Elgart, James Zitro ,Tony Oxley ,Franklin Kiermyer ,Francisco Mela ,Sadhu Bhav Tony Falco ,Peter Bruun ,Ahued Audra Menconi ,Simon Barker ,Peter Zeldman ,Chris Cutler ,Pedro Melo Alves ,Vladamir Tarasov ,Thomas Praestegaard ,Tupac Mantilla ,Christopher Garcia ,Michala Ostergaard-Nielsen ,Billy Drummond ,Michel Lambert. - Apologies to those I've forgotten. Love Always Hu Ra Kalam”
Her second album, “More Stories from the Village”, with her improv group “Østergaard Art Quartet” featuring French guitarist Marc Ducret, Norwegian trumpeter and vocalist Per Jørgensen, and Danish trumpeter Kasper Tranberg, was included on two “Best of the Year” lists for jazz releases in 2016 (one Swedish and one European).
Michala is playing/has been playing with: Bob Moses (US), Marilyn Crispell (US), Greg Cohen (US), Adrian Belew (US), Linda Oh (US), Marc Ducret (FR), Louis Sclavis (FR), Per Jørgensen (NO), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (NO), Pamelia Kurstin (AU), Katharina Klement (AU), Ingrid Jensen (CA/US), Tineke Postma (NE), Kari Ikonen (FI), Markus Reuter (D), Denys Baptiste (UK), Luca Calabrese (I), Maggi Olin (SE), Jonas Kullhammar (SE), Lindha Kallerdahl (SE), Lina Nyberg (SE), Josefine Lindstrand (SE), Fabian Kallerdahl (SE), Sofie Norling (SE), Mika Forsling (SE), Lisen Rylander (SE), Lisa Nordström (SE), Nils Berg (SE), Josef Kallerdahl (SE), Mathias Landæus (SE), Mattias Ståhl (SE), Andreas Hedén (SE), Nina de Heney (SE), Lisa Ullén (SE), Martin Nilsson (SE), Lotte Anker, Kasper Tranberg, Flemming Agerskov, Jacob Anderskov, Thomas Agergaard, Thomas Hass, Artur Tuznik, Kresten Osgoods Alpenglow 06, Jan Kaspersen, Jesper Zeuthen, Randi Pontoppidan, Josefine Cronholm, Morten Carlsen, Laura Toxværd, Thommy Andersson, Marc Bernstein, Sture Ericsson, Søren Kjærgaard, Nils Davidsen, Anders Banke, Marianne Mortensen, Michael Vesterskov, Thomas Præstegaard, Henriette Groth, Maria Faust, Maria Bertel, Qarin Wikström, Katrine Amsler, Samuel Hällkvist, Jesper Løvdal, Thomas Vang, among others.
Extended CV with info about education, teaching experience, scholarships and other additional info, please be in contact.
A member of the Swedish label BoogiePost Recordings 2009 - 2020.
Motivation by the Swedish Jazz Association - Swedish JazzAward “Jazzkannan”, received @ the National Jazz Gala in Halmstad (2018): “Michala Østergaard-Nielsen personifies in many ways the heart of improvised music with her rare talent of highlighting the musical meeting in the room. Michala knows of both fellow musicians and the audience and takes it into her body, processes it and gives back in highly personal and storytelling sounds. It creates both recognition and completely new combinations that make the listener curious to want more. This years “Jazzkanna” goes to a spirituel and sensitive composer and musician, who´s univers is full of poetic vibrations that create instant love.”