Paolo Fumagalli graduated in violin under the guide of E. Ponzoni and in viola with R. Tarenzi, and then attended an highly advanced specialization course in Italy and Switzerland with M. Jokanovic, C. Pavolini, and S. Braconi.

As a chamber music player, he was invited from Settimane Musicali in Stresa, Festival Milano Classica, Fondazione Fernando Rielo in Rome, Contemporaneamente Lodi, Europa Musica, Giovani Artisti, Conservatory of Mantova, Bergamo, Bologna, Como, REC Reggio Emilia, PAC Milano, Teatro Filodrammatici Milano, Teatro Bibiena Mantova, Japanese Institute of Culture in Rome, Nuova Consonanza, Teatro Municipale Piacenza, Amici della Musica Palermo, Staatsoper Stuttgart. In 2000 he partecipated to a tournée in Bosnia Erzegovina (Mostar, Banja Luka, Sarajevo) where he recorded italian ancient arias for Sarajevo National Radio. In 2006 he was invited by WDR in Koln to record as a première a piece for viola and harp by Robert HP Platz.

From 2005, he is first viola in the Luigi Cherubini Orchestra, directed by Riccardo Muti. Very fond of contemporary music, in 2002 he founded with others musicians Mdi Ensemble (Musica D’Insieme Ensemble), with which he performed in Tonhalle Dusseldorf, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Teatro Forteza Maiorca, LACMA Los Angeles, Toho Gakuen School of Music e Meijigakuin Tokyo, Japanisches Kulturinstitut Koln, Lingotto Musica Torino. Some MDI Ensemble concerts have been broadcasted by Radio Rai 3 and Rai International. He cooperates with most important italian ensembles of contemporary music. He recorded for Stradivarius and Aeon Paris label.