Michael Bertoncello

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra trombonist Michael Bertoncello began his studies with Ian Perry at the Victorian College of the Arts in 1990.  In 1997 he moved to Chicago to accept a position with the Civic Orchestra od Chicago and to study with Michael Mulcahy.  He completed his Masters of Music Performance degree at the University of Melbourne in 2008.

Michael has held Principal Trombone positions with the Shanghai Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra (1998), the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra (1999), and the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich (2000-2005) before returning to Australia to take up his current position with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  In 2011 he was invited to join the Australian World Orchestra as Principal Trombone, where he showed his versatility performing as soloist on Didgeridoo with the AWO in Peter Sculthorpe’s “Earth Cry” at very late notice.

Michael is in great demand as a recitalist, soloist, chamber musician and clinician. He has performed as a soloist with the Melbourne, West Australian and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, the Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse, and the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich. He is a founding member of the Australian Brass Quintet, and has also performed with the esteemed European brass ensemble, German Brass.  He has travelled extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Switzerland, the USA, China, Singapore and Hong Kong giving classes and recitals at institutions including the Julliard School of Music, New York and Northwestern University, Chicago.

Michael was founder and Co-Director of the Melbourne International Festival of Brass (2003-2009). He has held the position of Lecturer in Brass at The University of Melbourne (2008-2011), and is curently Lecturer in Trombone at the University of Tasmania, Hobart.

Michael has recorded the David and Wagenseil Trombone Concerti on the Arte Nova Classics label, performing with David Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich.

Michael lives in Melbourne with his wife and three children, Rose, Zara and Darcy.

"Bertoncello's legato playing is truly melting..." Gramaphone Magazine