Michele Bernabei
Composer, Trumpet Player and Multimedia Artist
Michele Bernabei is a composer trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist performer based in Wien.
After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in jazz trumpet and a Master’s degree in jazz composition with top marks at the Conservatory of Turin with Furio Di Castri (Chet Baker’s bassist), he began classical composition at the Conservatory of Milan, where he earned a second Bachelor’s degree. He then moved to Austria, where he completed a Master’s degree in composition with distinction and top marks at the Kunstuniversität Graz. He is currently finishing a second Master’s in Computer Music and Sound Art at the IEM. He currently resides in Vienna.
Despite a deep mistrust toward academic institutions, he ended up completing four degrees within them — in jazz trumpet, jazz composition, classical composition, and contemporary composition — all with top marks. He is now finishing a fifth in Computer Music and Sound Art at the IEM in Graz. This contradiction doesn’t embarrass him: he sees it more as a long detour through the system to understand how it works from the inside.
His current artistic goal is to challenge the clichés and hypocrisies of so-called “contemporary music” through acts of poetry, clarity, and vitality.
Education and Training
Michele began his musical journey studying piano and electric bass at the age of six, later transitioning to trumpet at 14. He earned his Professional Diploma in Jazz Trumpet from the Saint Louis College of Music, Rome, before completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Trumpet at the Conservatory “N. Paganini” in Genoa under M° Pietro Leveratto. Further studies brought him to Turin, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Jazz Arrangement and Composition with top honors from the Conservatorio “G. Verdi.”
Expanding his expertise into classical music, Michele graduated with distinction in Classical Composition at the Conservatory “G. Verdi” in Milan, studying under Gabriele Manca. He later moved to Austria, where he completed a Master’s degree in Classical Composition with distinction and top marks at the Kunstuniversität Graz under Franck Bedrossian. He is currently finishing a second Master’s in Computer Music and Sound Art at the IEM in Graz. He currently resides in Vienna.
He has refined his craft through masterclasses and private mentorships with luminaries such as Tristan Murail, Clara Iannotta, Eva Reiter, and Markus Stockhausen, alongside private studies in electronic music with Zeno Baldi and Mauro Lanza. In recent years, he has also developed the MiBeAT (Michele Bernabei Augmented Trumpet), a wearable controller that expands the expressive potential of the trumpet through real-time interaction with electronic sound.
Recent Projects and Collaborations
- Collaborations:
- Worked with Juliet Fraser and Hannah Weirich (Musikfabrik) on innovative performances combining voice, electronics, and multimedia.
- Actively collaborates with renowned cellist Francesco Dillon as an electronic performer.
- Developed a multimedia augmented trumpet at IEM Graz for transdisciplinary projects.
- Multimedia Performances: Combines electronic music, trumpet, and live visuals to create immersive storytelling experiences. Notable projects include a DJ set featuring Tarkovsky film excerpts and performances exploring experimental techniques.
Awards and Recognitions
Michele’s compositions have been performed by prestigious ensembles, including Schallfeld Ensemble, MDI Ensemble, and Quartetto Maurice. Highlights include:
- Winner: Winterraise Composition Competition (Moscow, 2020)
- Winner: Lunigiana International Music Festival Composition Competition (New York, 2019)
- Residency: C.R.E.O. Artistic Residency (2019)
Discography
Michele’s work is featured in a wide range of recordings across genres:
- Cabiria Orchestra – Grottesco Italiano (2017)
- Matteo Brancaleoni – Made in Italy (2015)
- Manuel Volpe – Albore (2015)
- Cosimo Morleo – Ultreya (2015)
- Pablo e Il Mare – Respiro (2014)
- Buio Pesto – Pesto (2011)
- Roberta Barabino – Margot (2010)
- Fabio Zuffanti (2009)
- Zahal – Onda quadra (2009)
Performance and Direction
As a trumpet player, Michele has performed with top ensembles such as:
- Giampaolo Petrini Big Band
- Torino Jazz Orchestra
- Alberto Mandarini’s Big Band
He has collaborated with esteemed artists, including Furio Di Castri, Avishai Cohen, Emanuele Cisi, and Antonella Ruggiero, and was selected for the Siena Jazz Seminars, studying with artists such as Dave Douglas and Jeremy Pelt.
In addition to live performances, Michele has led innovative projects like the Basquiat Jazz Factory and Orchestra Cabiria, producing acclaimed works that blend music, cinema, and visual arts.
Educational
Michele has a strong passion for teaching and mentoring. He has taught trumpet, composition, and orchestral exercises at leading institutions and conducted workshops on jazz, soundtracks, and Big Band arrangements. His teaching philosophy emphasizes creativity and cross-disciplinary exploration.
