Stefano Scodanibbio, contrabass soloist and composer, was born in Macerata, Italy, June 18th 1956. In the 1980s and 1990s his name has been prominently linked to the renaissance of the double bass, playing in the major festivals throughout the world. Dozens of works have been written especially for him by such composers as Bussotti, Donatoni, Estrada, Ferneyhough, Frith, Globokar, Sciarrino and Xenakis.

In 1987, in Rome, he performed a four hour non-stop marathon playing 28 pieces by 25 composers. He has created new techniques extending the colors and range of the double bass heretofore thought impossible on this instrument. He collaborated for a long time with Luigi Nono ("arco mobile à la Stefano Scodanibbio" is written on Prometeo's score) and with Giacinto Scelsi.

John Cage, in one of his last interviews, said "Stefano Scodanibbio is amazing, I haven't heard better double bass playing than Scodanibbio's. I was just amazed. And I think everyone who heard him was amazed. He is really extraordinary. His performance was absolutely magic."

In 1996 he taught contrabass at Darmstadt Ferienkurse. He regularly plays in Duo with Rohan de Saram and, furthermore, with Markus Stockhausen. Active as a composer, his catalogue consists of more than 30 works principally written for strings (Sei Studi for solo contrabass, Six Duos for all combinations of the four strings, Three String Quartets, Concerto for contrabass, strings and percussions, etc.). Most of his compositions have been performed and recorded by Arditti Quartet. Of particular importance is his collaboration with Terry Riley and with poet Edoardo Sanguineti. In 1983 he founded the "Rassegna di Nuova Musica", New Music Festival held every year in Macerata, Italy.