BIOGRAPHY

He studied flute with Peter Lukas Graf at the Basel Conservatory where he obtained a Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy and a Master of Arts in Music Performance. He then specialized in theory, composition and direction. Both as a soloist and as a member of chamber ensembles, he has won several competitions, including first prize with mention at the Swiss National Soloist Competition in 1981. In 1984 he received a scholarship from the Ernst Göhner-Migros Foundation.

Between 1989 and 2006 he was professor of wind band conducting at the University of the Arts in Zurich. Franco Cesarini is currently professor of wind band conducting and music theory at the University of Music (SUM) in Lugano. Since 1998 he has been principal conductor of the Civica Filarmonica di Lugano symphony wind orchestra.

He has toured as a soloist and guest conductor in several countries in Europe, North America, Central America and Asia. He has worked as a jury in national and international competitions. In 2001 Cesarini was appointed composer-in-residence at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri (United States).

Cesarini is a versatile composer. In addition to his compositions for wind orchestra, he has written works for ensembles, various solo instruments, piano, string quartet, voice and symphony orchestra.