Cesar Palacio

Lauded for his “warm, elegant playing” by Canadian periodical Das Journal, César Palacio is a Texan clarinetist of Colombian and Peruvian descent.

Mr. Palacio currently holds the Kate H. and Julian P. Van Winkle Endowed Chair of the Louisville Orchestra where he serves as 3rd, Utility, and Bass Clarinet. Previously, he served as 3rd and Bass Clarinetist of the Phoenix Symphony.

An accomplished orchestral musician, Mr. Palacio has performed with such distinguished ensembles as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, AMICI Ensemble, Miami’s New World Symphony, and the Niagara Symphony Orchestra where he formerly served as acting 2nd Clarinet.

Past summer residencies include the Round Top Music Festival, AIMS Opera Festival in Graz, and the Aspen Music Festival, where he served as Bass Clarinet Fellow for the 2020-2022 seasons.

An enthusiastic music educator, Mr. Palacio has presented masterclasses for young musicians at Arizona State University, Glendale College, University of Toronto, Yale College, Niagara Youth Symphony, and the University of Panama.

Previously, he taught clarinet lessons at Oberlin College, Oberlin Community Music School, Yale College, and the Aspen Music Festival’s P.A.L.S. Educational Outreach Program.

In addition to his symphonic orchestral engagements, Mr. Palacio has also performed in numerous regional productions of Broadway musicals, including: Into the Woods, The Sound of Music, Cinderella, Singin’ in the Rain, Man of La Mancha, Hello Dolly, and The Music Man on assorted clarinets, saxophones, and flute.

Mr. Palacio is an alumnus of Oberlin College and Conservatory’s Double-Degree Program, with studies in History and Clarinet performance. He also earned an Artist Diploma from Toronto’s Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music and a Master’s degree from the Yale School of Music. His most influential teachers include Richard Hawkins, Joaquin Valdepeñas, and David Shifrin.