About Michele Marelli

Michele Marelli, who graduated “summa cum laude” in clarinet with Prof. Giacomo Soave from the Conservatory of Alessandria and earned a degree in modern literature from the University of Turin with a thesis on Stockhausen, is internationally known as one of the best solo performers of contemporary music of his generation. In addition, he studied in England with Alan Hacker, in Germany with Suzanne Stephens and in France with Alain Damiens.

At the age of 18, he met Karlheinz Stockhausen with whom he established a profound artistic relationship that lasted for more than a decade during which Marelli played world premières under his direction. Stockhausen himself encouraged Marelli to devote himself to the basset horn.

A six-time winner of the Prize of the Stockhausen Stiftung für Musik, he has also been awarded many other prestigious international prizes and distinctions, including the first prize at the International Contemporary Chamber Music Competition in Cracow (2004) and at the Valentino Bucchi Clarinet Competition in Rome (2007), the Honorary Logos Award in Belgium (2000), winner of the Jeunesses Musicales auditions (2001), the DESONO Association Scholarship (from 2001 to 2005) and in 2006 the Master dei Talenti Musicali Award from the Fondazione CRT. He is assistant to Suzanne Stephens at the Stockhausen Courses Kürten.

The Stockhausen Foundation entrusted him with performing the world première of Stockhausen's “Uversa”, 16th hour from “Klang”, for basset horn and electronic music during the MusikTriennale in Cologne, the composer's last piece for basset horn before his death. His performance was later released in the Stockhausen Complete Edition. He also recorded Stockhausen’s “Harlekin” and the CD “Stockhausen for basset horn”.

Despite his busy schedule with concerts at major international concert halls, he holds regular master classes and seminars on the interpretation of contemporary music at Italian and European conservatories.