Massimo La Rosa

Principal Trombone
Gilbert W. and Louise I. Humphrey Endowed Chair
The Cleveland Orchestra

Massimo La Rosa joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal trombone in September 2007. He previously served as principal trombone of La Fenice Opera House in Venice from 1996 to 2007. He has performed as principal trombone with La Scala Opera House in Milan, the Orchestra of the National Academy of St. Cecilia in Rome, and the Teatro Comunale di Firenze in Florence.

Mr. La Rosa has appeared as a soloist with La Fenice Orchestra and with the Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra of Palermo. He was a guest artist at the 2009 Eastern Trombone Workshop, where he performed as a soloist with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”

Born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1974, Massimo La Rosa grew up in Belmonte Mezzagno, a small town outside Palermo. He began playing the trombone in the community band when he was nine years old. Later, he studied trombone in Palermo with Filippo Bonanno, principal trombone of the Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra. He had additional lessons and masterclasses with Joseph Alessi, Rex Martin, Jacques Mauger, and Charles Vernon.

Mr. La Rosa is a member of the trombone faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has presented masterclasses at American universities and conservatories including the Manhattan School of Music, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Juilliard School.