Sergio Azzolini is one of the most innovative and diverse bassoonists today. After studies in his hometown Bolzano/Italy he finished his studies in Hanover/Germany and was during this period also principal bassoonist of the European Community Youth Orchestra.
Sergio has won many prestigious competitions, including the Carl Maria von Weber Competition, the Competition of the ‘Prague Spring’ and the ARD Competition. For ten years he played with the extremely successful Ma’alot Quintet. Since 2011 he is performing regularly with the “Maurice Bourgue Trio”.
In addition to his career as a soloist and chamber musician on the modern bassoon, Sergio Azzolini has worked intensively in the field of Baroque music, performing on period instruments.
Between 2002 and 2007 Sergio Azzolini held the position of artistic director of the Kammerakademie Potsdam. With this orchestra he explored and performed a wide repertoire ranging from the Baroque to contemporary pieces and world premieres as well as three highly successful opera productions.
Sergio has recorded extensively, his CDs show extraordinary stylistic diversity and have been honoured with many prestigious awards. He is currently working on a complete recording of the thirty-nine bassoon concertos by Antonio Vivaldi for the label Naïve’s Vivaldi Edition.
Since 1998 Sergio Azzolini has held the post of professor of bassoon and chamber music at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel.