Born in Torino, he gets the bassoon diploma with full marks and full honour at the " G. Verdi" conservatory of his town.
In 1978 he joins the European Community Youth Orchestra "ECYO" conducted by Claudio Abbado and after he plays as principal bassoon in the "Jeunesses Musicales" World Orchestra.
In 1981 he is awarded the first prize at the Belgrade International Competition with the "Trio d'Ance di Torino"He affirms himself to the "F.Verganti" International Contest of Stresa and to the "Auditorium - Rassegna di Giovani Interpreti",a competition held by the RAI, after which he is invited in numerous tv shows, such as: "Il solista e l'orchestra","Voglia di Musica"and "Musica a Palazzo Labia".
Claudio Gonella's intense activity as a soloist touches a wide repertoire, that goes from Baroque to contemporary music, with the Torino RAI Orchestra,the Naples A. Scarlatti Orchestra, the European Community Chamber Orchestra,with which he recorded the A. Vivaldi Concerts, the Saint Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, the Virtuosi of Bucarest, the Timisoara Philharmonic, the Pomeriggi Musicali and Angelicum Orchestras of Milan,the San Remo Symphonic Orchestra,the International Orchestra of Italy, the Camerata Ducale and the Abruzzese Symphonic Orchestra.
He was member of the "Quintetto a Fiati Italiano", which held recitals in the United States and around Europe, making recordings for such important televisions as BBC, RAI, RTSI, Suisse Romande and collaborating with such great piano soloists as Bruno Canino,Michele Campanella, Alexander Lonquich, Pascal Roge', Nazzareno Carusi, Giuseppe Bruno.
Together with the "Nuovo Quintetto Italiano" he toured Europe and Southern America.
He played as principal bassoon with the Teatro Alla Scala Orchestra in Milan, the RAI National Symphony Orchesra, Symphonica of Italy,Torino Rai Orchestra, Comunale Theater of Bologna,Venice La Fenice Orchestra, Genova's Carlo Felice Orchestra, Parma Teatro Regio Orchestra, conducted by L. Maazel, G. Pretre, E. Imbal, R.F. De Burgos, S.Bychkov, Donato Renzetti, M. Viotti, Lu Ja, G. Gelmetti.
He made recordings for many labels: Novello, Nuova Era, Ricordi.
For the Dynamic Record he recorded the World Premiere of N.Paganini's "Tre Duetti per Violino e Fagotto" with Salvatore Accardo.
The Naxos produced his recording of J. N. Hummel's "Concerto in F Major".
He held many masterclasses in Europe, USA, and Southern America.
He is now Bassoon teacher of Torino" G. Verdi " Conservatory.
web-site: www.claudiogonella.it