Didier Ortolan

Born in Hayange (France) in 1966. Having graduated in clarinet and saxophone, he is now working to obtain his diploma in band instrumentation. He is clarinettist in a number of chamber music ensembles, with which he has also won several competitions. He is first clarinet in the “Orchestra San Marco” from Pordenone. While pursuing his classical music studies he also cultivated his talent for jazz, studying harmony and composition and specialising at the Manhattan School of Music. He is a permanent member of the “Big Band di Udine” and of the “Zerorchestra” (jazz orchestra specialised in silent movie soundtracks) for which he has also written some soundtracks. He teaches and conducts the bands of Roveredo in Piano (Pordenone) and Pordenone. His piece called “Summer Sketches” came second at the “1° Concorso Internazionale di elaborazione su Villotte Friulane” (1st international competition for Fruili folk-songs). In November 2006 he was awarded second prize (no first prize was awarded) at the “Primo Concorso Regionale in direzione di banda” (1st regional band conducting contest) in Friuli Venezia Giulia.