Massimo Di Trolio
Having held the position of principal clarinet with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta (2006-08), Massimo returned to the UK to pursue a busy schedule of orchestral, chamber and solo engagements. A stalwart in the West End, he balances his portfolio with his position as the clarinetist on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. He has forged a successful career as a freelance clarinetist. Massimo works frequently with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and was on trial with them for the position of associate principal in 2015-16. Most recent trials include associate principal Royal Scottish National Orchestra (2021 – 2023), subprincipal BBC Symphony Orchestra (2019 – 20) and principal clarinet with the BBC Concert Orchestra (2018 – 19). He regularly performs with the Aurora Orchestra, English National Opera, The Royal Northern Sinfonia, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Contemporary Orchestra and the Chroma Ensemble.
Commercial work has included tours with the RPCO to the USA (Star Wars – In concert) and Stings’ Symphonicities world tour. Performances and recording with pop and indie artists such as Ellie Goulding, Alexandra Burke and Caroline Rose bolster his experience. Massimo made his Wigmore hall debut with The Aurora Soloists in 2019. His Kings’ Place debut in 2012 was part of the Brahms “Unwrapped festival”. In 2007 as a Park Lane Group artist, he performed at the Purcell room as a founding member of the Aquilon trio (violin, clarinet & piano). Often recording for TV, film and video game he can most recently be heard on scores for South of midnight; for Xbox (2025), Holland (2025), A haunting in venice (2023), Lego super mario bros (2023), The whale (2022), Cyrano (2022) and The responder (2022).
As a post-graduate scholar on the advanced solo performance course at Trinity Laban, Massimo studied with Joan Enric Lluna and Michael Whight and graduated with distinction. There he won the competitive Isabelle Bond gold medal, Trinity’s premier prize. He graduated from the orchestral pathway with distinction from The Royal College of Music, where he studied with Michael Collins, Timothy Lines and Robert Hill. He was the first clarinetist to be selected for The London Philharmonic’s prestigious futures first apprenticeship scheme (2004-05). In 2004 he also held the principal Eb clarinet seat with the Gustav Mahler youth orchestra and in 2003 was a member of The Verbier Festival Orchestra. As a keen educator, Massimo balances his work as visiting clarinet tutor at Ibstock place school, St Paul’s Cathedral school, and Westminster Abbey choir school.
Through his role as single reed specialist at Highgate school; where he previously taught, he was gifted the task of introducing and developing the supplementary clarinet auxiliary instruments (Eb and bass clarinet). He is a deputy clarinet tutor at The Royal Academy of Music junior department and Wells Cathedral school. Equally accustomed to the novice through to the advanced clarinet student preparing for music scholarship auditions (recent music scholars have obtained exhibitions at King’s Canterbury, Oundle and Sherborne Abbey), A level recital/s, diploma certificate and national auditions, Massimo prides himself on his participation in the trajectory of all his students. Underpinning his advanced level portfolio, he has examined at The Royal Academy of Music as the clarinet specialist for the cohort of bachelor and masters final recitals. In addition, he has recently delivered masterclasses to the clarinet graduate cohort at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has also been an adjudicator for the woodwind prize at Trinity school, Croydon. Massimo is an international D’addario woodwind artist.