Florian Conzetti Assistant Professor of Music, Director of Instrumental Activities
Vivian Bull Music Center 143
Overview
Director, percussionist, and educator Florian Conzetti is internationally respected for performances and interpretations that are both rigorously detailed and deeply expressive. Praised as “superb” by San Francisco Gate and described by The Oregonian as “a wonder,” Conzetti has built a world-class career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. His work spans continents, genres and traditions, and he brings the same clarity, intensity and curiosity to the classroom as those that define his performances on stage.
Teaching and mentorship
At Linfield, Florian leads students through a wide-ranging musical landscape that emphasizes collaboration, listening, and openness to many ways of engaging with music. Florian’s teaching begins with the belief that there is no single path into or through music. He emphasizes strong fundamentals, careful preparation and respect for collaborators, while encouraging students to remain curious and open to unfamiliar ideas and traditions. Rather than training students for one narrow outcome, he helps them develop the tools to determine what is needed for the musical lives they want to build. Collaboration, critical listening and disciplined curiosity are central to his approach.
Education
- Konservatorium für Musik in Bern, Switzerland
- M.M., Eastman School of Music
- D.M.A., Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University
Areas of expertise
- Percussion performance and pedagogy
- Chamber and ensemble coaching
- Contemporary and new music
- World music and cross-cultural traditions
- Music theory, history, and analysis
- Interdisciplinary and collaborative performance
Notable projects and professional highlights
- Principal Timpanist, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
- Founder & Director, Linfield Collaborative Music Ensemble
- Founder and former Artistic Director, Northwest New Music
- Performances with Music@Menlo, Cal Performances, Stanford Lively Arts, and Astoria Music Festival
- Recordings on Naxos, Innova, Albany, Other Minds, MSR Classics, and Music@Menlo LIVE
- Lecturer at UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and major international conferences
Why Linfield Music
Florian values Linfield’s ability to offer exceptional resources while remaining deeply inclusive. The department’s scale allows students at different skill levels to access the same opportunities and grow at their own pace. Linfield’s liberal arts environment also supports his belief that music is inseparable from history, politics, culture, and lived experience.
Who thrives here
Students who are curious, dedicated and open-minded tend to thrive in Florian’s classes and ensembles. He works especially well with students who are willing to explore unfamiliar ideas, collaborate deeply with others and develop reliability and drive—qualities that matter as much beyond college as they do within it.
Beyond the studio
Originally from Switzerland, Florian is deeply interested in how music reflects and responds to cultural, political and historical contexts. His research includes the influence of Balinese gamelan on Western composers, and he is passionate about helping students discover music as a lens for understanding the world.