The Band was founded in 1883 and, apart from interruptions caused by wars, remained active until the 1970s.

On 26 April 1976 the Band made its debut with a new formation and under the name Fornova "Ettore Zuffardi" Band (in memory of one of the Band's most important maestros). Its first appearances were at patriotic celebrations and religious services.

The performance of new pieces and its modern structure have enabled the Band to perform in Italy and abroad.

The most significant moments in its recent history include: the Band's participation in the international jazz meeting PARMA JAZZ FRONTIERE, with the collaboration of Maestros Schiaffini (2004), Greco and Remondini (2005), Colombo (2006) and Arcari (2007); the concert in the Regio Theatre in Parma in celebration of the 183rd anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi, and its collaboration with Davide Riondino in the performance of De Andrè's 'Buona Novella' at the Francigena Festival.

The Band has won prizes in the following contests: VII National Band Contest "City of Scandicci"; I National Band Contest "City of Ghedi", ABMER Regional Meeting 2004 and 2005; VII National Band Contest "City of Bertiolo"; III Monterosi National Band Contest "Tommaso Albani" and the IV Valle de Aosta International Band Contest.

In 2007 they received their most prestigious award, when they won, together with the Borgotaro Band, the VIII Malgrat de Mar International Band Festival, which was held in Barcelona from 9 to 14 October 2007.

The Band's new repertoire aims to merge modern music and traditional local pieces.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the death of Maestro Ubaldo Ferrari, the Band's current conductor, Francesco Zarba, transcribed scores dating back to the 1930s, pieces which are technically difficult but also very impressive, which the Band then released on CD.


BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Francesco Zarba

Francesco Zarba was awarded his Clarinet degree in 1989 from the A. Boito Conservatory in Parma, achieving the highest grade possible. He went on to further his studies with Maestros Leister, Pay, Mariozzi and Holtzel.

He later gained a second level academic diploma with First Class Honors from the Conservatory of Parma.

He studied band instrumentation and conducting with Maestros Gatta and Obkircher.

He has attended advanced courses in the Trentina Philharmonic Academy and the Toscanini Foundation of Parma.

He has won prizes in contests such as those in Genoa, Rome, Turin, Cremona, Alassio and Asti.

He has performed in the most important Italian and foreign music festivals (Austria, France, Spain, Germany and Norway). He plays with the Parma J. Ibert Quintet, the I Fiati di Parma Chamber Orchestra, the Massa Carrara Chamber Orchestra, the Astor Quartet, the Simply Clarinet Quartet and the Gulli Quintet.

He collaborates with the Toscanini Symphony Orchestra of Parma, the Arena de Verona, the Regio Theatre in Parma, the Sanremo Symphony Orchestra, the Parma Symphony Orchestra and the Carlo Felice Theatre in Genoa.

Since 1990 he has been first clarinet of the I Fiati di Parma chamber orchestra, with which he has recorded pieces for AMADEUS, Radio Vaticana, EDIPAN and The Classic Voice.

He has conducted numerous bands and choral groups with which he has won various prizes as Best Conductor, while the bands he has led have won national contests such as those in Marmirolo, Scandicci, Lavagna, Brescia, Udine and Viterbo, and Malgrat de Mar in Spain (where they won First Prize, the first time they had done so in an international contest) and the international contest in Saint Vincent.

Since 2004, he has directed concerts for the Parma Frontiere Jazz Festival, collaborating with Giancarlo Schiaffini, Massimo Greco, Marco Remondini, Eugenio Colombo and Mario Arcari.

Since October 2007 he has been the Musical Director of the Parma Conservatory Wind Orchestra.

He is a clarinet teacher at the Parma Music Academy.