Antonino Mollica was born in Messina (Sicily), he obtained a Master’s in saxophone performance at the Messina “Arcangelo Corelli” National Music Conservatory where he also studied writing, counterpoint, composition and ethnomusicology.
Attracted by the internationally-renowned French School of Saxophone, he studied under Christophe Bois in Bourges, where in 2003 he was awarded two First Prizes for Saxophone and Chamber Music. In 2004 he also received two regional First Prizes, awarded unanimously in the same disciplines. After joining the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (Paris Higher National Conservatory of Music – CNSMDP) in 2006 (Antonino is only to the second Italian saxophonist to be admitted to this prestigious school since its inception), he studied under Gilles Tressos, Claude Delangle, Sylvain Malezieux and Lazlo Hadady. In June 2010, he obtained a Master’s in Saxophone Teaching together with the Certificat d’Aptitude de saxophone, France’s highest diploma for teaching in artistic disciplines.
He was recently awarded the Generative Improvisation Prize (with honours) from the CNSMDP class of Alexandros Markeas and Vincent Le Quang. Studying under Patrick Moutal within the Conservatory, he also gained Certificates A and B in Indian music, awarded with honours by unanimous vote.
Keen to broaden his musical horizons, he has undertaken a number of conducting courses, taught by musicians including Daniele Carnevali, Claude Kaesmaecker and Jean Marc Cochereau. He is also studying the traditional music of Southern Italy in collaboration with ethnomusicologist Sergio Bonanzinga at the University of Palermo. He is currently extending his knowledge of Soundpainting, a form of choreographic sign language used in structured improvisation and live composing, on which he is working with Vincent Le Quang and the American composer and saxophonist Walter Thompson (creator of Soundpainting).
Antonino Mollica has won a number of competitions in Italy (most recent being first prize at the Palermo Benedetto Albanese, April 2006) and in France (UFAM, May 2005). He has also performed at festivals including “Festiorgue” in St Jean de Luz, “I suoni delle Dolomiti” in Madonna di Campiglio (Italy), and “European melody” in Shanghai (China). His diverse experience in musical interpretation has led him to perform in a number of European countries including Belgium, Holland, Germany, Spain and Italy, as well as in Asia. He has played at renowned venues such as the Musée d’Orsay Auditorium, the Zénith Paris, the Greek Theatre in Taormina and the Cité de la Musique, where he is participating on the “Carnet de sons” (Sounds book) project at the site of the future home of the Paris Philharmonic.
Antonino Mollica has received support from the Ministry of Culture on several occasions, with patronage also from Société Générale (2004) and the Meyer Foundation (2009).
He is currently teaching saxophone at the “Artemuse” Departmental Conservatory in Marne la Vallée.