Maurizio “OttO” De Togni is a veteran musician, composer, arranger, programmer, and audio technologist with over 30 years of professional experience. As an Instructor and Curriculum Developer at Musicians Institute, he teaches Avid Pro Tools and Apple Logic Pro in both on-campus and live online formats and is an integral part of MI Online, where he develops curriculum for the school’s accelerated online programs, including its latest 4-week certificate courses. He also teaches at UCLA Extension and has collaborated with renowned artists including Franco Battiato, Zucchero Fornaciari, Roberto Cacciapaglia, Nikka Costa, Samantha Fox, Sandy Marton, and Den Harrow. His production credits span major commercial campaigns for Heineken, Subaru, Campari, and Lindt, and he has contributed to more than 1,000 episodes of award-winning programming for leading Italian television networks including Mediaset© and RaiTV©.

A certified expert in both platforms, Otto holds nearly 90 industry certifications, including Avid Pro Tools Certified Instructor, Pro Tools Expert, and Apple Logic Pro Certified Trainer. Having worked with Pro Tools and Logic since their earliest forms—Digidesign Sound Tools and Emagic Notator in the late 1980s—he has taught nearly 15,000 students in more than 1,500 classes worldwide, both in person and online. His teaching credits include Musicians Institute (Hollywood), UCLA Extension, the Academy of Entertainment Arts and Professions at Teatro alla Scala & Espero (Milan), Soho Editors (London), Future Media Concepts (Stanford University), and the Grammy Museum.

Otto’s clients have included Paramount Pictures, James Valentine & Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5), Mike Posner, and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. A regular contributor to Macworld magazine, he is also a member of both the Italian Society of Authors and Publishers (SIAE) and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS – GRAMMYs).

Among his credits as a music editor and supervisor is the multi-award-winning documentary The Jumper Maybach Story, a powerful exploration of identity, courage, and equality.

Otto’s contributions to education have earned him numerous honors, including Instructor of the Year at Musicians Institute for four consecutive years (2015–2018), the Outstanding Instructor Award at UCLA Extension (2012), and recognition for his leadership and innovation at the 2022 Avid Voice of the Customer Summit.

Today, Otto focuses on curriculum development, online education, and helping students and educators integrate emerging technologies, including AI, into professional music production workflows. He leads Train The Trainer (TTT)programs on best practices for online instruction using Zoom, OpenAI (ChatGPT), and other emerging technologies. His recent teaching and consulting work spans the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and India.

Outside of music and education, Otto is deeply passionate about Italian cuisine and culture. He co-authored and produced two cookbooks, including A Queen in the Kitchen, developed with his late wife, and is currently authoring and producing his third cookbook, A World of Tiramisù, a posthumous tribute celebrating her passion, creativity, and culinary legacy. He also produces educational and culinary media dedicated to preserving and sharing authentic Italian recipes and traditions with audiences around the world.