Lauded by Canada’s German-language periodical Das Journal for his “warm, and elegant playing”, César Palacio is an American orchestral clarinetist, chamber musician, and music educator of Colombian and Peruvian descent. He has enjoyed critical acclaim across North America for his masterful performances on clarinets of all different shapes and sizes.

A passionate orchestral musician, Mr. Palacio has performed with symphonies and ensembles across North America, most notably appearing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Aspen Festival Orchestra, AMICI Ensemble, New World Symphony, and as former acting Second/Bass Clarinet for the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. He has additionally appeared as guest principal clarinet with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra and Niagara Symphony Orchestra. Past summer festival engagements include the Banff Festival, Marrowstone Festival, Round Top Music Festival, AIMS Opera Festival in Graz, and Aspen Music Festival, where he served as Bass Clarinet Fellow for the 2020-2022 seasons. A Texas native, Mr. Palacio is an alumnus of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra.

Mr. Palacio’s performances have been broadcast via such radio stations as WCLV, WQXR, and CBC Radio. He can be heard on the inaugural recording of Matthew Hindson’s Flute Concerto House Music, with the Oberlin Orchestra and soloist Alexa Still, as well as the original soundtrack of Paul Thompson’s children’s musical A Place in the Castle. Aside from classical performances, Mr. Palacio has performed in numerous regional stage productions and broadway musicals, including: 42nd Street, Into the Woods, The Drowsy Chaperone, Cinderella, Singin in the Rain, Peter Pan, Man of La Mancha, Company, Hello Dolly, The Sound of Music and The Music Man on assorted clarinets, saxophones, and flute.

Mr. Palacio is a Sphinx Organization NAAS Artist and proud alumnus of Oberlin College and Conservatory’s Double-Degree Program, with studies in History and Clarinet Performance. He holds 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. Past influential teachers include Richard Hawkins, Joaquin Valdepeñas, and David Shifrin. Apart from musical endeavors, Mr. Palacio enjoys weightlifting, Asian cuisine, video games, cartoons, podcasts, and documentaries.