Duane Padilla - Violin

Violinist Duane Padilla began his musical career much in the "traditional" way. Beginning classical violin lessons at age 4, he went on to earn degrees from Yale University and Northwestern University. In 1995, he founded the highly acclaimed chamber ensemble The Gemini Duo, semi-finalists in the Concert Artists Guild Competition in NYC. A 15 year career as an orchestra musician eventually led him to Hawaii where as a member of the Honolulu Symphony, he performed with a "who's who" list of the jazz world which included: Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Dianna Reeves, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini Elvis Costello, Victor Wooten, Rosemary Clooney and countless others.  In 2009, he founded his own ensemble, the Hot Club of Hulaville (HCOH), a "jazz manouche" band centered around 30's era swing  In 2011 The Hawaii Academy of Recording Artists awarded Hulaville's album "Django Would Go!"  their most prestigious Na Hoku Hano Hano Award for Jazz Album of the Year.