Paolo Calligaris was born in Palmanova (Italy), where he received his general education and gained his first musical experience. In 1983 he enrolled at the Conservatory of Music in Udine with Prof. G. Grassi and after three years continued his studies in Turin with Prof. V. Menghini. He graduated in 1996 in the class of Prof. S. Canuti in Castelfranco Veneto. 

He also studied with Prof. M. Costantini in Rome and Prof. O. Danzi in Portogruaro.
He was a member of the wind trio "Trio d'ance di Udine", with which he won numerous international chamber music competitions in Italy. From 1992 to 1997 he was solo bassoonist of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, and now he is solo bassoonist of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a member of the wind quintet Slowind, with which he received the Župančič Prize and the Prešeren Fund Prize.
He regularly works with renowned orchestras such as the "Orchestra da camera di Mantova", "Orchestra da camera di Padova", "Camerata Bern". 

He taught bassoon and chamber music for twelve years at the Klagenfurt Conservatory, was a guest professor at the State Conservatory in Udine and at international summer music courses in Slovenia and abroad, and has been an active participant at the GCEW.