Paolo Baratto was born in 1926 in Untersiggenthal (Argovia, Switzerland). At the age of seven he began trumpet studies with his father Alois, and then with Paul Spörri (former principal trumpet of the Berlin Philharmonic). He did his professional studies at the Zurich Conservatory (1941-1943), while playing substitute with the Zurich Tonhalle and Opera orchestras. From 1943 to 1953 he was the principal trumpet with the Swiss Italian Radio Orchestra, and continued his studies of various areas of music for winds. From 1943 to 1961 he played with the Swiss Festival Orchestra in Lucerne under the direction of the greatest conductors of the era. He conducted different large Swiss wind bands. From 1956 to 1983 he was a member of the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich. He has composed over 80 pieces, mainly for trumpet accompanied by organ, piano, string or wind orchestra as well as works for choir or wind bands. Paola Baratto died in March 2008.
