2020-09-09

Orlando Pimentel

Orlando Pimentel (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Orlando Pimentel began his musical training in Venezuela’s System of Youth Orchestras, also known as “El Sistema.” From 1989 to 2009, he was a member of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and performed with such renowned conductors as Claudio Abbado, Sergiu Comissiona, Gustavo Dudamel, Judit Jaimes, and many others. In 1988, together with three other colleagues, he formed the Caracas Clarinet Quartet (1996 National Artist Award: Best Classical Ensemble), a chamber ensemble that has performed throughout Venezuela, as well as in China, Europe, South America, and the United States of America. Since he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2009, Orlando has performed regularly with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony, Racine Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, and Festival City Symphony Orchestra. He performs also with his wife, pianist Elena Abend, as part of the Elisio Ensemble. Orlando received his master’s degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee studying under the tutelage of Todd Levy. Most currently, he has been appointed as Faculty of Clarinet at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/09/2020.

Raquel Paraíso

Music; United States; Covid-19 Pandemic

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Musicians in America during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Society for Ethnomusicology