Kevin Spagnolo

1st Prize Clarinet 2018

Kevin Pedro Spagnolo (1996) started playing the clarinet at the age of eight in the conservatory ”Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali Luigi Boccherini” in Lucca, and in 2013 he was graduated for the Bachelor’s Degree with the best marks”cum laude” and honours under the teaching of prof. Remo Pieri. After his Bachelor he studied with Carlo Failli and Fabrizio Meloni for two years. After his first Master Degree at HEM in Geneva (Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève) , completed in 2017 with a special prize, he graduated for his second Master Degree Soliste with Romain Guyot in 2019.

In 2018, with only 22 years old, Kevin wins the First Prize of Geneva International Music Competition, one of the most important and prestigious competitions in the world. He is the youngest clarinetist of all times to get this important award in the history of this competition. From this moment on he starts to have recitals, chamber music and solo concerts in important Festivals and tours.

Already from 2016 Kevin starts to do International Competitions. After winning many National and International Competitions in Italy he wins Third Prize in Jacques Lancelot International Clarinet Competition in 2016 an  in Ghent International Clarinet Competition in 2017.

He had recitals and tours with pianists such as Carlos Sanchis, Chloe Ji-yeong Mun, Thèo Fouchenneret and the string-quartet Quatour Voce in Montpellier Festival, Festival de les Haudères, Festival de Jeunes Talents in Paris, Concerts d’été à Saint Germain in Geneva among others. Kevin played as soloist with Orquesta de Aguascalientes, Orchestre de la Normandie, Bruxelles Philarmonic, Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra.                                                                 

From 2019 Kevin is Principal clarinet of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra with Martin Fröst as chief conductor.

During his studies Kevin had many experiences as Principal Clarinet in orchestras as: Teatro alla  Scala, Orchestra Regionale Toscana, Teatro San Carlo di Napoli , Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Leonore Orchestra in Pistoia, Verbier Chamber Orchestra. He was also member of some youth orchestras and Festivals as: Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra. With all these orchestras Kevin had tours and many concert’s all over the world playing in concert halls as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Berlin, Saechsiche Staatskapelle in Dresden, Kloster Eberbach among others. He played under conductors as Valery Gergiev, Herbert Blomstedt, Philip Jordan, Simon Rattle, Gábor Takács Nagy, Christoph Eschenbach, Charles Dutoit, Esa-Pekka Salonen.                                                                                                                           

“Leaning on an exceptional instrumental control, Kevin Spagnolo is known for his surprising spontaneity and his research for freedom, pushing his play until the limits of the possibilities of his instrument with which he more seems to make than one. Curious, roguish musician, trying to share all his feelings with the public, he pursues permanently his discovery of new repertoire, as shown by his recent affection for the chamber music and klezmer music.”

Biography updated on 30.06.2020 | www.kevinspagnolo.com

 

COMPETITION PROGRAMME


RECITAL 1
— R. Schumann: Fantasiestücke for clarinet and piano
— M. Jarrell: "Assonance" for clarinet solo

RECITAL 2
— J. Brahms: Sonata N° 2 in E flat major, Op. 120
— E. Bozza : Bucolique
— P. Sarasate (arr. N. Baldeyrou): Carmen Fantasy
— F. Busoni: Elegie from Suite, BV. 88

SEMI-FINAL
— W. A. Mozart: Quintet for clarinet and string quartet, K. 581
— D. Lovreglio: Fantasy on "Traviata"
— W. Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes

FINAL
— J. Choi: "Nocturne III", Concerto for clarinet
— B. H. Crusell: Concerto N° 2 in F minor, Op. 5