Austin Vitello, bassoon

🇺🇸 USA

Growing up in a musical family, American bassoonist, Austin Vitello, fell in love with music at an early age.  He is currently a sophomore at Clarence High School in Clarence, New York, and has been studying the bassoon for seven years; first with Mary Kay Ortolano, and now with Glenn Einschlag, principal bassoonist of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Austin is a current member of the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra and the Clarence High School Wind Ensemble.  In addition, he has performed in numerous honor orchestras and bands locally, regionally, and across New York State.  During the summer of 2023, Austin was a member of the prestigious Young Artists Orchestra at the Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, MA.  In addition, he was a winner in the VIVALDI International Music Competition 2023 Season 3 in the following categories:  Absolute First Prize- Young Artist (Age 14-17), Absolute First Prize- Baroque A (Under Age 17), and Excellent Technique Special Prize.  Most recently, Austin was honored by being named as an alternate for the acclaimed 2024 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) and as a member of the esteemed 2024 National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2).

An avid chamber music performer, Austin enjoys making music with his high school woodwind quintet, youth orchestra chamber ensembles, and as a member of the Chromatic Club of Buffalo.  He is a regular participant in the BRAVO International Chamber Music Workshop and has performed chamber music in venues across the Western New York area; including the Mary Seaton Room in Kleinhans Music Hall as a part of the Buffalo Philharmonic Spotlight Series.

Austin would like to thank his parents: mentor, conductor and music teacher, Louis, and Nicole, for their continual unwavering support.