Michael Bertoncello

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Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Trombonist Michael Bertoncello began his studies with Ian Perry at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 1990. In 1997 he became a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago while studying with Michael Mulcahy.

His first orchestral position was Principal Trombone with the Shanghai Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra in 1998, and the following year he joined the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra in the same position. Michael then moved to Switzerland to take up the position of Solo Trombone of the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich in 2001 under the Direction of Maestro David Zinman.

In 2005 Michael came home to Australia to his current position with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Michael has performed as a soloist with the Melbourne Symphony, West Australian Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse and the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich. Michael has also performed with the esteemed European ensemble, German Brass on tour throughout Germany and is a founding member of the Australian Brass Quintet.

As a recitalist and clinician, Michael is in great demand. He has traveled extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Switzerland, the USA, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. He has also recorded the David and Wagenseil Trombone Concerti on the Arte Nova Classics label, performing with David Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich.

Michael is founder and Co-Director of the Melbourne International Festival of Brass currently in its seventh year. He is a Lecturer in Brass at the University of Melbourne where in 2008 he obtained his first ever qualification a Masters of Music Performance.