He was most likely a pupil of Francesco Rovigo, as several of the older composer's works were at one point combined with his own for publication.
He served as organist of the Mantua Cathedral during the winter of 1576-77, acting as deputy for Annibale Coma.
[2] Musicologist David Mason Greene describes the incident thus: In 1587, Duke Guglielmo found him in a back street chatting with a woman whose company he deemed unfitting for a church organist, and when Trofeo told him to mind his business, the duke punctured him to a considerable depth with his sword.
[3]Other sources further record that the duke was in disguise at the time, which may account for Trofeo's reaction to his request; they also note that Gonzaga's death three months after the incident likely prevented the musician from suffering further punishment for his disobedience.
[1] In the 1590s Trofeo took a position as organist at San Marco, Milan; sometime early in the next century he moved to Turin, performing at Turin Cathedral while acting as maestro di cappella for the chamber chapel of the House of Savoy.