Simone Candotto, born on May 29, 1969, in Palmanova, Italy, is an accomplished trombonist. He has been the principal trombonist of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg since 1997.
Candotto began his musical education at the “J. Tomadini” Conservatory in Udine, Italy, studying under Professors Giuseppe Bonomo and Giovanni Caratti from 1980 to 1987. He furthered his studies in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik Trossingen (1988–1991) and the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (1991–1993) under Professor Branimir Slokar. He completed his formal education at the Hochschule für Musik Hannover (1994–1997) in the solo class of Professor Jonas Bylund.
Before joining the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Candotto served as the assistant principal trombonist with the Orchestra of the Staatstheater Kassel from 1993 to 1997.
In addition to his performance career, Candotto is dedicated to teaching. He offers lessons that cover various aspects of brass playing, including breathing techniques, sound production, technical skills, orchestral excerpts, and solo concertos. He emphasizes the mental aspects of performance, helping students prepare for auditions, competitions, and solo performances. His teaching philosophy is influenced by the principles of “Song & Wind” from Arnold Jacobs, with whom he studied privately in Chicago in 1994.
Candotto is multilingual, fluent in English, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, which enables him to connect with a diverse range of students and colleagues.
Throughout his career, he has been associated with ensembles such as Brass Partout and has contributed to various recordings and performances.