Paolo Aralla was born in Lecce (Italy) in 1960. He studied symphonic-choral repertoire with Marcel Couraud and composition with Franco Donatoni. He has won several awards in international competitions for composition including: Gaudeamus in Amsterdam (first prize - 1990) and selection by the Reading Committee of The Ensemble Intercontemporain in Paris (1997). He has also received commissions from the Arturo Toscanini Foundation in Parma, the Teatro Comunale in Bologna and the Miller Theatre in New York. His music has been performed in numerous cities and venues including: Amsterdam, Bologna (Teatro Comunale), Paris (Cité de la Musique), London, Milan (Milano Musica),  San Francisco, New York, Palermo (Spasimo), Parma (Teatro Farnese), Tokyo, Rome (Foro Italico), Turin, Salzburg, Siena (Accademia Chigiana), Spoleto (Festival dei Due Mondi) and Venice (Biennale Musica). He teaches Composition at the music Conservatory in Bologna. He composed the music for several of Luca Veggetti's works: Silence/Text, "O" - new version, Ensemble for Somnabulists, Four/Voice, Play for Dancer, Memory/Measure, Upon a Ground, Script, Nothing.