Marco Conti Bellocchi

Marco Conti Bellocchi (b. 2003) is an Italian clarinetist. He is currently Principal Clarinet and Clarinet Teacher of the Fujairah Philharmonic Orchestra (UAE). He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with the highest honors at the Conservatorio “A. Corelli” in Messina, under the tutelage of Giuseppe F. Corpina.

As part of his Master’s studies, he joined the Erasmus Programme, studying at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2023-24) with Arno Piters and at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo (2024-25) in Porto with Nuno Pinto and António Saiote.

He further refined his orchestral preparation through a professional traineeship with Jože Kotar at the Akademija za glasbo (2025-26) in Ljubljana.

Alongside his formal training, he has gained additional guidance in masterclasses with acclaimed international clarinetists such as Philippe Berrod, Calogero Palermo, Roeland Hendrikx, Eric Hoeprich, Giovanni Punzi, Patrick Messina, Giuseppe Balbi, Nele Delafonteyne, and Pascal Moraguès.

At the age of seventeen, his orchestral career began with the Massimo Youth Orchestra of Palermo Opera House. He later held leading roles as principal clarinet of the National Orchestra of Italian Conservatories.

In 2024, he marked a decisive step in his orchestral career by being admitted, after successful audition, as a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester for its spring and summer tours, as well as of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Orchestra, Teatro alla Scala Academy in Milan and the Wiener Festspiele Academy Orchestra in Vienna. He was further selected for the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) for its 2026 summer tour and for the Grafenegg Festival Orchestra, confirming his presence among the most distinguished young orchestral musicians of his generation.

He was invited as guest principal clarinet with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tuscany chamber Orchestra (ORT), and the Orchestra of Teatro La Fenice. In 2025, Marco was appointed as Co-Principal Clarinet at the State Opera Stara Zagora, in Bulgaria, following a successful audition. Six months later, he returned to Italy after winning a further audition to join the clarinet section of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples for the 2025-26 season. At beginning of 2026, before leaving Europe, he has also won the audition for a permanent position as Principal Clarinet of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Orchestra (FVGO).Under the baton of legendary conductors such as Kirill Petrenko, Ingo Metzmacher, Christian Blex, Holly Choe, Ion Marin, Diego Matheuz, Andris Poga, Donato Renzetti and Alessandro Cadario, Marco has appeared at the world's most renowned festivals, including the Salzburger Festspiele, Berliner Festspiele, Rheingau Musik Festival, Bolzano Festival Bozen, and the Nervi International Ballet Festival.

As a soloist, he has performed Crusell’s Clarinet Concerto Op. 5 No. 2 at the Palacultura in Messina; Artie Shaw’s Clarinet Concerto with the “G. Luporini Philharmonic” in Torgiano and with the National Wind Orchestra of Italy, among others.

Conti Bellocchi has received recognition in more than ten international clarinet competitions, including Second Prize at the 2025 Silverstein Clarinet Contest, Second Prize at the Mercadante Clarinet Competition, and Prize winner at the Zac Ligature Competition, Caunes-Minervois Clarinet Competition, and the Vallo della Lucania Clarinet Competition.

My teaching philosophy combines the rigorous traditions of European conservatories with a highly personalized, encouraging approach. As an active Principal Clarinetist in a government orchestra, I bring real-world performance insights directly into our lessons. Students can expect a structured environment where we focus not just on playing the right notes, but on mastering tone production, breath control, and true musical expression. Whether you are a beginner building a solid foundation or an advanced player preparing for professional auditions, I tailor my methodology to fit your unique learning style and pace, ensuring that every lesson is both challenging and deeply rewarding.