Ethnomusicologist and composer, Mauro Campagnoli graduated in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Torino (Italy), where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology. He also got two diplomas in Composition and Choral Music & Choir Conducting at "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory of music, Turin.
Since some years he conducts anthropological and ethnomusicological fieldwork in Central Africa, studying in particular the music of Baka Pygmies and other pygmy groups (BaKola-BaGyeli, Bedzan-Tikar, Aka, etc.). During a research mission in the rainforest of Cameroon, he took part into the rite of men's initiation that marks the transition to adulthood of the young Baka, a rite conducted by elderly members of the group and by Jengi, the Spirit of the Forest, after which he was accepted in a baka patrilinear clan.
Besides the ethnological research, he occasionally contributes to national magazines and newspapers with articles and photo-reportages about anthropological subjects.
With regard to music and composition, Mauro Campagnoli won various national and international composition contests, in Italy and abroad, and some of his compositions were played during contemporary music and world-music festivals. He occasionally collaborated with RAI Italian Television Network as soundtrack composer for documentaries.
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