Paul Palmer started playing violin in the 5th grade. At the age of 14, he went to a music camp at Midwestern State University where he participated in a master class with Paul Rolland. Mr. Rolland then invited him to attend the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, IL where he studied violin and played viola in the orchestra and in chamber music. After graduation, he attended the University of Illinois for 3 semesters then transferred back to Dallas and completed his studies at SMU. Paul toured Europe with The New York Harlem Theater Ensemble, playing Carmen Jones for 9 months in 11 countries. He has played with The Dallas Opera, the Tulsa Opera, the Utah Festival Opera, the Spoleto Festival/Festival Dei Due Mondi, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, as well as symphonies in the North Texas area including Amarillo, Shreveport, Waco, Longview, Texarkana, Tyler, Oklahoma City and Lawton, OK among others. He also has a teaching studio of about 50 students in the Plano ISD. When not practicing, Paul enjoys studying foreign languages and playing contract bridge and chess. He is an active member in his church orchestra at the Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ.

Fun Facts about Paul

Birthplace:  Dallas, TX, but I grew up in Grand Prairie

Favorite WF restaurant: McBride’s 

Family: Mom, Brother Sister, cousins by the dozens

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?  I plan trips around museums and opera performances.  I want to go to St Petersburg to see the Hermitage

Favorite hobby:  Studying languages; I speak French, German, some Russian, and I’m trying to learn Mandarin Chinese

Age you started playing your instrument: 9

Favorite book: Les Miserables

Favorite movie: 2001, A Space Odyssey

Favorite onstage moment: When I was playing the Spoleto Festival, I participated in a Mass with an envoy from the Vatican.  “O Sacrum Convivium” was beautifully sung a capella, and I still have that close to my heart

Favorite piece of music:  Mozart’s “Marriage of Figero”