Claudio Casolino is an Italian cellist based in Switzerland, active on the international music scene with a particular focus on historically informed performance and chamber music. As of September 2025, he is an academy member at the Opernhaus Zürich.

Claudio began studying the cello at the age of five under the guidance of Fernando Nese. He pursued his musical education at the G. M. Galanti Music High School in Campobasso and, from a young age, received numerous national awards. Among these are several first prizes at competitions such as Scandicci, Isola del Liri, and Zangarelli, as well as a special mention at the “Prodigi della Musica” competition in Termoli.

His dedication to orchestral music led him to collaborate with prominent ensembles early on, including the Orchestra dei Licei Musicali Italiani and the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana. With the latter, he participated in institutional events and festivals such as the Republic Day celebration at the Quirinal Palace and the Ravello Festival. Between 2022 and 2023, he was selected to join the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, with which he performed as tutti cellist and co-principal in some of Europe’s most prestigious venues, including the Felsenreitschule in Salzburg, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, La Scala in Milan, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. During this period, he had the opportunity to work under the baton of conductors such as Teodor Currentzis, Daniel Harding, Daniele Gatti, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Jakub Hrůša.

Alongside his orchestral engagements, Claudio is passionately involved in chamber music. He is a member of the Aliis Trio, with which he won first prize at the Big Little Music Competition in Ghent in 2023.

His interest in historically informed performance led him to study the baroque cello with Daniel Rosin, complementing his modern cello training with a deeper exploration of historical practice.

He has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned cellists such as Gabriele Geminiani, Clive Greensmith, Richard Aaron, Frans Helmerson, and Giovanni Gnocchi, and pursued advanced training with Enrico Dindo at the Pavia Cello Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana under Asier Polo and later completed a Master of Arts in Music Performance at the Hochschule Luzern, studying with Christian Poltéra. He is currently continuing his studies with Claudius Herrmann at the Opernhaus Zürich Academy.