Michael Cretu was born in Bucharest Romania in 1960. He began studying the double-bass at the age of twelve at the Georges Enescu school of music. After graduation he joined the Romanian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. During this period Michael also played in jazz and traditional gypsy bands touring Europe extensively.

In 1990 he received a scholarship to study with Duncan McTier at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Michael was the principal Double-Bassist with the London Schubert Players chamber orchestra for four years and now is a very active chamber musician. He has performed with violinist Cristina Anghelescu (winner of Sibelius International competition) with whom he toured Spain, Holland, Switzerland, Brazil and Britain. In 1997 Michael together with violinist Vasile Stanescu formed the Bucharest String Duo and has performed his compositions at the Edinburgh Festival and major concert halls in the U.K. (Manchester, London, Brighton, Winchester, etc.)

His work was very well received by the public and the critics alike and was broadcast by BBC Radio.