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, Eduardo Mata, Sergei Senkov, among others. Orlando Pimentel has participated in master classes held by Luis Rossi, Anthony Pay, Walter Boeykens, Kalman Berkes, Eddy Vanoosthuyse, Michel Lethiec, Mario Frogionni, Walter Seyfarth, Judit Jaimes and Raquel Adonaylo.

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. The Caracas Clarinet Quartet released three CD’s: “Cuarteto de Clarinetes de Caracas” (1995), “Aires Tropicales” (1997) with guest artist Paquito D’Rivera, and “Suelos” (2007) with guest artists Anat Cohen, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez and Jorge Glem.

Orlando Pimentel performs regularly with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony, Racine Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, and Festival City Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Pimentel has been invited to perform as part of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Sphinx Symphony Orchestra Competition. Orlando Pimentel performs regularly with his wife, pianist Elena Abend, as part of the Elisio Ensemble. Mr. Pimentel received his Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee studying under the tutelage of Todd Levy (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera). Most currently he has been appointed as Faculty of clarinet at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.