Loading...
Awards
- Leonardo per la Musica Award · 2016
- First Prize and scholarship from the Filarmonica della Scala · 2020
- WESPE Prize – Wochenende der Sonderpreise Jugend Musiziert-Germany (selected)
- Second Prize and Special Jury Prize for Best Performance of the Third Movement of the Concerto · 2024
Education
- “V. Bellini” Conservatory in Caltanissetta
- Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano — Graduated with highest honours and distinction (2025)
- Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia — Advanced training course (2018)
- Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia — Leonardo per la Musica Award (2016)
Past ensembles
- Orchestra of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma — Principal oboe
- Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (OSI) — Principal oboe
- Teatro San Carlo in Naples — Principal oboe
- Teatro Regio in Turin — Principal oboe
- Teatro Massimo in Palermo — Principal oboe
- Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania — Principal oboe
- Human Rights Orchestra — Principal oboe
- Mahler Chamber Orchestra — Second oboe
- Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia — Second oboe
Teachers
- Maestro Francesco Di Rosa
Collaborations
- Luca Vignali (masterclasses), Jean-Louis Capezzali (masterclasses), Domenico Orlando (masterclasses), Fabien Thouand (masterclasses), François Leleux (masterclasses), Albrecht Mayer (masterclasses), Orchestra of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (principal oboe), Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (OSI) (principal oboe), Teatro San Carlo in Naples (principal oboe), Teatro Regio in Turin (principal oboe), Teatro Massimo in Palermo (principal oboe), Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania (principal oboe), Human Rights Orchestra (principal oboe), Mahler Chamber Orchestra (second oboe), Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (second oboe), RSI (Swiss Radio and Television) — Festival 700 (performed and recorded), Francesco Di Rosa (RSI collaboration), Andrea Zucco (RSI collaboration), Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich — Calogero Palermo (RSI collaboration), Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam — Davide Lattuada (RSI collaboration), Orchestre de la Suisse Italiana — Enrico Fagone (RSI collaboration), Janine Jansen (soloist performance)
Biography
Karlo Mistretta is an oboe player with United Soloists Orchestra, graduating with highest honours and distinction from the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano (2025).
Born in Sicily, he began oboe studies at eight with the “V. Bellini” Conservatory in Caltanissetta, then studied in Lugano under Maestro Francesco Di Rosa. He also attended masterclasses with Luca Vignali, Jean-Louis Capezzali, Domenico Orlando, Fabien Thouand, François Leleux and Albrecht Mayer, and took an advanced training course at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia taught by Di Rosa.
His recent career includes performances as principal oboe with the Orchestra of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana (OSI), as well as appearances with the Teatro Regio in Turin and Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania. He has also performed and recorded for RSI during “Festival 700” (Mozart’s Serenata per fiati No. 10 “Gran Partita”), and appeared as a soloist with violinist Janine Jansen at Palazzo Colonna in Rome.
At USO, his blend of orchestral leadership and festival-ready versatility supports the crossover repertoire with clarity, colour and musical confidence.