Photo © Gianfranco Ganzaroli

Giovanni Polo

Giovanni Polo was born in Ferrara (Italy). He began his formal training in clarinet at the age of fourteen at the Conservatory of Music “Girolamo Frescobaldi” of Ferrara, where he graduated cum laude in clarinet and chamber music. He made further clarinet studies at the School of Music of Fiesole, and at the Accademia Chigiana of Siena with Giuseppe Garbarino. He won a scholarship for the European Community Course for Advanced Musical Studies in Saluzzo taking lessons with Thomas Friedli, Walter Boeykens and Maurice Bourgue. Among others awards he won the first prize at the International Competitions in Stresa, Teramo, and Asti. He has played in several orchestras (Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, Filarmonici di Torino, Camerata Virtuosi of New York, etc….). From 1995 he is principal clarinet of the Orchestra of Ferrara at Teatro Comunale Claudio Abbado. He dedicates himself with great entusiasm and passion to clarinet chamber music with a repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary (and avant-garde) compositions. He has taught Executive Practices and Repertoire for Woodwinds at the Conservatory “Girolamo Frescobaldi” of Ferrara. He has recorded for Auvidis, Poligram, Tactus, and Bongiovanni labels. Giovanni Polo plays Herbert Wurlitzer clarinets and basset clarinet.