Umberto Clerici

Following from a career spanning more than 20 years as a gifted cello soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, Umberto Clerici is consolidating his multi-faceted and diverse skills as a conductor of increasing renown.

Umberto began his cello studies with the Suzuki method at the age of five, later continuing with Mario Brunello, David Géringas and Julius Berger. Umberto received several international prizes including the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow making him only the second Italian cellist ever being honoured in the history of the prize, after Mario Brunello.

As a cello soloist, Umberto debuted at the age of 17 performing Haydn’s D Major cello concerto in Japan, and has since appeared with an array of renowned orchestras internationally including the Philarmonia Wien, St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic, Russian State Orchestra of Moscow, “I Pomeriggi Musicali” (Milan) and Zagreb Philharmonic.

After 4 years as the Principal cello of the Teatro Regio di Torino, Umberto became Principal Cello of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 2014 – 2020. Whilst with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Umberto continued his solo appearances with orchestras throughout Australia.

As a conductor, Umberto made his debut in 2018 conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House with Dvorák’s New World Symphony. Since then, Umberto has conducted the Izmir and Istanbul State Orchestras, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Orchestra d’Aosta, Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Swan Lake, Mahler Symphony No. 4), Queensland Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven 6, Stravinsky’s The Firebird) and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Schumann’s Cello Concerto, Mendelssohn Italian Symphony and Schumann Violin Concerto).

Recent season highlights include his return to the Sydney Symphony and debuts with the Melbourne Symphony and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. Umberto looks forward to returns to all these orchestras and in addition will make his debuts with the West Australia, Adelaide and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras.