About me
Michelle Chenard is one of northern Michigans favorite and most well known musicians. An accomplished songwriter and performer, she has been voted Best Solo Performer, Best of the Best and #1 in Singer/Songwriter charts several times. She released her first music video for the song “Blade” in 2012 with critical acclaim to a packed house at the City Park Grill, a well known music venue in Petoskey, Michigan. Michelle scored a Michigan Emmy®️Award in 2011 for musical score on the TV documentary “Sacrifice and Honor: A Tribute to our Northern Michigan Veterans”.
Michelle continually performs hundreds of shows across the state from small venues to large festivals each year. In addition to her tireless schedule, Michelle is also co-founder and treasurer for Big Water Creative Arts, Inc., a non-profit arts organization that facilitates beginning songwriting workshops and music exploration classes for youth, adults, seniors and those with special needs. In 2017, she and frequent co-writer/partner in crime Pete Kehoe wrote a song called “I Love This Town” which was presented at the Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce’ Breakfast of Champions and is used as the calling card for the chamber. She is also the music director for the Petoskey Zonta Club yearly fashion show fundraiser held each first weekend of November and even composed a special theme song, “Bold, Brave, Strong”, that was performed at the shows finale in 2018. Michelle also collaborates with Detroit Music Award winning Country Artist, Julianne Ankley, and they perform their original material as Ankley & Chenard.
Singing and playing guitar since she was seven years old, it’s no surprise that Chenard has garnered such respect and accolades. Her acoustic performances have built her a strong following throughout the Upper Midwest. From Michigan’s unspoiled Upper Peninsula down the coast of Lake Michigan and back, it is her powerful vocals, accomplished guitar work and award winning songwriting that continues to captivate.
Awards & Accolades
2011 Michigan Emmy® Award – Sacrifice and Honor: A Tribute to our Northern Michigan Veterans – produced by Corey Adkins and Kevin Essebaggers, score by Michelle Chenard and Pete Kehoe. The Michigan Emmy® Awards is a chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (MI-NATAS)
2008 Best of the Best – Northern Michigan Entertainer of the Year – Northern Express Entertainment Newsweekly
2005 Best Solo Performer – Northern Express Entertainment Newsweekly
Accolades
“Michelle was incredible, professional, sounded amazing and was phenomenal to work with. When you hear her sing, you feel you are home, you feel safe, inspired and limitless…all at the same time.”
~ Andrew D. Davis, Brat Fest and Madison, WI Youth Performing Arts Foundation
“Michelle Chenard sings with such amazing passion. Her live performances are captivating, she is one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters.”
~ Terri Ray, Program Director WKLT/WKLZ Traverse City, MI
“Not only is she a pleasure to work with, she gives her all and leaves it all on stage.”
~ Bart Berkshire, Events Director, Mackinac Island Music Festival
“Chenard exhibits a sense of sophistication and lyrical excellence that goes far beyond what one might expect of an artist from a rural area.”
~ Robert Downes, Northern Express
“Chenard has carved a solid niche for herself not only in Northern Michigan, but Grand Rapids and Detroit as well.”
~Morgan Sherburne, The Graphic Weekly
“Michelle Chenard’s single Highway has been number one on the charts for 18 weeks straight, we have never had another song stay on top for so long. There is clearly something compelling about her songwriting and her performance.”
~John Kissane, General Manager, Radio Mackinac
Performing & Recording
Recent Festivals
Art Prize Grand Rapids
Mackinac Island Music Festival
Grand Marais Music Festival
Blissfest
Brat Fest Madison
Festival On The Bay
National Cherry Festival
Wheatland Music Festival
Notable Performances
Local Spins Live Contemporary Folk Series, St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids, MI
Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey, MI
Traverse City Opera House, Traverse City, MI
NAMM Show, Nashville, TN
Recent Radio
Highway (single) featured on Women of Substance Radio “What’s On My iPod” show and WOS Podcast #56
Back In The Game (Nobody Knows) featured on Women of Substance Radio “What’s On My iPod” show and WOS Podcast #41
Flesh and Bone (39 Drops) featured on Women of Substance Radio “What’s On My iPod” show
KLT’s Garage with Terri Ray – featured twice as a solo performer as well as with her band Blood Sisters, Under The Bridge Compilation of Northern Michigan Songwriters and Mackinac Island Songwriters Workshop
Highway (single)
#1 for 18 weeks on Radio Mackinac – Radio Mackinac is rated one of the top ten streaming internet radio stations in the Folk-Rock, Singer Songwriter and Alternative genres worldwide via Live 365 and iTunes
Discography
Michelle Chenard:
Nobody Knows
39 Drops
4
Michelle Chenard & Pete Kehoe
Live at the Pony-Flaws & All
Leavin’ Dodge
Leavin’ Dodge
Live n’ Loose
Christmas Cabin Sessions
Compilations
Under The Bridge
Standing Together
Opening Act
Badfinger, Steve Marriott, Roger McGuinn, Blessid Union of Souls, Tempest
Collective Soul, Reba McEntire, The Bihlman Brothers, Mike Moran, Howling Diablos
Artist Endorsements
– Samick Guitars
Professional Affiliations
BMI
Mackinac Island Songwriters Workshop
Music Instructor at Petoskey Montessori Children’s House And Elementary School
Booking Requests
Contact
performing in Novi
General
Michelle Chenard
michellechenard.mc@gmail.com
Demos
Michelle Chenard
michellechenard.mc@gmail.com