Duane Padilla is an acclaimed violinist and educator whose artistry bridges the worlds of classical, jazz, and beyond. A passionate performer and teacher, he is committed to inspiring audiences and students alike through concerts, private lessons, and educational outreach.

After earning degrees from Northwestern University and Yale University, concert artist Duane Padilla began his performance career as an orchestral musician, performing with the National Repertoire Orchestra, the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the New Haven Symphony, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Also an active classical chamber music performer, his ensemble The Gemini Duo was a semi-finalist in the prestigious International Concert Artists Guild Compet ition in NYC, and earned outreach grants from Chamber Music America and the American Federation of Musicians and was a featured ensemble on the Connecticut Commission on the Arts Performing Artist Roster and the CMA Rural Residency Artist Roster. Duane's more recent artistic endeavors have turned towards jazz. As a founding member of The Hot Club of Hulaville, he won the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts's award for jazz album of the year for their gypsy jazz release "Django Would Go!". His subsequent solo jazz violin album "Sentimental Swing" was named one of the top 40 jazz releases of 2011 by the South African Jazz Educators Association. His 2021 recording "Queen Liliuokalani" with the Mana Music Quartet won Instrumental Album of the Year from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts

Recent concert collaborations include duo performances with Pianist Tommy James (Music Director of the Duke Ellington Orchestra NYC), fingerstlye guitar legend Jeff Linsky,Guitarist Paul Mehling (Hot Club of San Francisco), Grammy winning Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarist Jeff Peterson, and Jazz Ukulele Grand Master Ben Chong, super star violinist Rachel Barton Pine, iconic Hawaiian vocalist Raiatea Helm. He has opened concerts for jazz giants Martin Taylor, John Jorgensen, and John Pizzarelli.

Duane is on the faculty at Punahou Music School where he teaches private violin and viola lessons, songwriting, music production, and improvisation in a variety of genres. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American String Teachers Association, reflecting his commitment to advancing music education.

Whether presenting an engaging concert program, inspiring a room full of young musicians in a school clinic, or guiding private students toward their musical goals, Duane brings a rare combination of technical mastery, stylistic versatility, and heartfelt musicianship that makes each performance and lesson memorable.