bio
Isabella Fabbri is one of the most innovative saxophonists and composers on the international music scene. She performs primarily as a soloist, presenting both classical repertoire and her own original compositions. Her cross-genre music seamlessly blends acoustic and electronic sounds, drawing inspiration from the spiritual wisdom of diverse cultures around the world—offering an immersive musical experience that always carries a deeper message.
On the classical side, Isabella has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious theaters and concert halls, including Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Flagey in Brussels, Arts Center in Seoul, and CENART in Mexico City, as well as at major international music festivals such as the Biennale Musica in Venice, Festival MITO in Milan, and the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest. She has collaborated with leading orchestras including Filarmonica del Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Orchestra del Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Orchestra del Teatro Regio in Turin, and the European Contemporary Orchestra. She has worked under the baton of renowned conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Antonio Pappano, Wayne Marshall, and Myung-Whun Chung, and has collaborated with prominent composers including Peter Eötvös, Ivan Fedele, and Michael Nyman. She also performs in duo with harpist Floraleda Sacchi, focusing on sacred music repertoire.
At the same time, Isabella explores new musical territories through her original compositions, pushing the boundaries of genre. As the founder of CA’ NOVA artistic house—a creative music production studio set in the countryside near Bologna—she composes and produces her works in a space dedicated to artistic innovation. Her discography includes her debut album Rainbow, inspired by Hindu culture and presented at Fabbrica del Vapore in Milan, as well as her latest project, Elementa, an album rooted in Shamanic traditions, which she premiered at the Ozora Festival in Hungary. She also performs in duo with multi-instrumentalist Damiano Della Torre, focusing on devotional music.
An internationally endorsed artist by Yanagisawa, D’Addario, and BG France, Isabella is currently Professor of Saxophone at the Vibo Valentia Conservatory of Music in Italy. She also conducts masterclasses on saxophone and music career development both nationally and internationally.
Isabella began studying saxophone under the guidance of Marco Gerboni at the Conservatory of her hometown, Ferrara, where she earned a diploma in classical saxophone, followed by a master's degree in chamber music, graduating cum laude. She also completed a second master's degree in classical saxophone, also cum laude, under the direction of Mario Marzi at the Conservatory of Milan. She furthered her musical education in France with Philippe Geiss at the Conservatory of Strasbourg, earning a specialization diploma in saxophone performance, while also studying electronic music with Tom Mays. Additionally, she attended numerous masterclasses led by renowned saxophonists, including Claude Delangle, Jean-Marie Londeix, Vincent David, Jean-Denis Michat, Arno Bornkamp, and Federico Mondelci, among others. She also studied singing with Miguel Angel Curti. Graduating cum laude in musicology from the University of Pavia under the guidance of Fabrizio Della Seta, Isabella simultaneously specialized in music cognition (psychology, pedagogy, and neuroscience of music) at the Teatro alla Scala Academy in Milan, mentored by Carlo Delfrati and Tomaso Vecchi. Ultimately, she obtained a PhD in arts with distinction from the University of Lisbon, working with José Bogalheiro. Over the years, she has also cultivated an in-depth education in music career strategies, which culminated in a career development training at Berklee College of Music under the mentorship of Peter Spellman.