Gianluca Farina

On Stage

Gianluca Farina is thrilled to be joining the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra as acting 3rd/Associate Principal Trumpet for the 2025-26 season. Previously, he spent three seasons as Principal Trumpet of the Sarasota Orchestra and was a fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida.

Farina is also grateful to be spending his summers as Principal Trumpet of the Des Moines Metro Opera, where he recently received recognition for his trumpet solos in Stravinsky's The Rake’s Progress. Prior to this appointment, he performed with the Utah Festival Opera and pursued summer fellowships with the Tanglewood Music Center, the Pacific Music Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the National Orchestral Institute. He has also made multiple guest appearances with the Boston Symphony and Florida Orchestras, the Sarasota Opera, and Nu Deco Ensemble.

Farina holds an artist diploma from the Colburn School, a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia. During his post-graduate studies in Los Angeles, he has held principal trumpet positions with the American Youth Symphony and the Young Musicians Foundation's Debut Chamber Orchestra, and has also performed side-by-side with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His principal teachers were Alex Jokipii of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Rolfs of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and James Wilt of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

As a clinician, Farina has taught masterclasses and lessons, and performed solo recitals at the Universities of Florida and Central Florida, and at his Alma Mater, SUNY Fredonia. He served as trumpet faculty with Colburn's Jumpstart Young Musicians Program and for a summer at Usdan Summer Camp of the Arts. He also enjoys teaching private lessons to students of all ages, and lately, has been specializing in audition preparation.

In addition to his classical trumpet work, Farina enjoys playing guitar, trying new beers, playing tabletop and video games, a good workout, exploring new places, perfecting his cooking skills, and spending time with his partner, Gilma, and their dog, Fusilli Mucca.