Claudio Merlo

Claudio Merlo Born in Tortona in 1968, Claudio Merlo began his cello studies under the guidance of Maestro Marco Perini and graduated in 1988 with the highest honors. His advanced training took place at the Fondazione “W. Stauffer” in Cremona under Maestro Rocco Filippini. He has participated in numerous musical exhibitions, both as a soloist and chamber musician, in Italy and abroad. As part of a cello / piano duo, Merlo has had the opportunity to perform with some of the most important concert associations of Italy (Amici della Musica di Arezzo, Teatro S.Filippo di Torino, Amici della Musica di Trapanim, Les Junes Concertistes-Aosta, l'Ora della Musica-Reggio Emilia). This duo also performed in Czechoslovakia in 1989 to great critical and public acclaim. As cellist of the Aries String Quartet, Merlo took part in numerous concerts both in Italy and abroad ( Spain, France ), culminating with a recital at the Auditorium Nazionale di Madrid. Merlo also performs with the Trio di Alessandria, which was invited to perform a series of concerts at the University of Georgia in April 2003, including a performance of A. Casella's Triple Concerto in Hodgson Hall accompanied by the UGA Symphony Orchestra. Merlo maintains an active orchestral career as the Principal Cellist of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Savona, and has worked often with the Orchestra Sinfonica dell'Emilia Romagna “A.Toscanini.” Merlo is the Cello Professor of the Conservatorio “A.Vivaldi” in Alessandria . His instrument is a 1954 Gaetano Gadda.