Jader Bignamini (born 1976 in Crema, Lombardy, Italy) is an Italian conductor and clarinetist.
As a child, Bignamini became interested in the clarinet. He formally studied music at the Conservatorio Nicolini Piacenza.[1] He joined the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi (La Verdi) as a clarinetist. He further developed his interest in conducting whilst a member of La Verdi, and became an assistant conductor of La Verdi in 2010.[2] He later became associate conductor of La Verdi. His professional debut as a conductor was at age 28.[1] He now has the title of resident conductor with La Verdi.[3] His conducting mentors have included Riccardo Chailly.
In North America, Bignamini first conducted at Santa Fe Opera in July 2015.[4] His first conducting appearance at the Metropolitan Opera was in November 2017.[5] In June 2018, Bignamini first guest-conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (BBC NOW), as an emergency substitute for Leonard Slatkin.[2] He returned to Detroit in October 2019 for a further guest-conducting engagement with the orchestra. In January 2020, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Bignamini as its next music director, effective with the 2020-2021 season, with an initial contract of 6 seasons.[1] [6] This appointment marks his first music directorship. In December 2023, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra announced the extension of Bignamini's contract as music director through the 2030-2031 season.[7]
Bignamini and his wife Lidia, herself a clarinetist, have two children.[8] The family resides in Cremona.[1]