César Cancino
Phone: (Mob.) +1 415.309.3195
cesar@cancinomusic.com
In 2022 West Edge Opera (Snapshots) presented the opening scene of "The Dark Horse" - an opera that I am in the process of composing.
August 2023: Musical staff for the opera "Three Feathers" with Solo Opera
August 2023: Musical Dir./Conductor of DMT Chorus in a concert of "Music Of The Americas".
July 2023: Performance with Franc D'Ambrosio in Lincoln, CA
October 2023: Musical Dir./Pianist for "Musical Cafe" (showcase of new musical works for the stage) - Freight and Salvage, Berkeley, CA
A native to the San Francisco Bay Area, César Cancino enjoys a musically diverse career as pianist, musical director, and conductor. He graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and then studied piano with Alain Naude, a pupil of the great Dinu Lipatti. For 5 years he toured with singer/songwriter Joan Baez as her musical director and pianist. Later he spent 5 more years as the musical director/pianist for Teatro Zinzanni (a European style circus-cabaret in San Francisco). He is also a recipient of the Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle award for Outstanding Musical Director. Mr. Cancino has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Australia in such venues as Montreux Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Carnegie Hall, Int’l Music Festival of Mexico City, Atlanta Summer Pops Symphony, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He has appeared with such diverse artists as singers Rita Moreno, Liliane Montevecchi, Thelma Houston, Maria Muldaur, Mercedes Sosa; cellist Ron Leonard; and violinists Pierre d’Archambeau, Martha Caplin and Tracy Silverman. Local credits include Berkeley Rep, Silicon Valley Symphony, Cinnabar Theater, Broadway By The Bay, 42nd Street Moon, Theatreworks, Beach Blanket Babylon, Monterey County Symphony, and Musical Director/Conductor of Morrison Theatre Chorus. He was for 6 years the musical director for Palazzo, a German company that produces a variety of circus-cabaret shows in Europe.
RESUME
CÉSAR CANCINO
MUSICAL DIRECTOR, PIANIST, ARRANGER, CONDUCTOR
Home: 510. 231.9097 Mobile: 415. 309.3195
cesar@cancinomusic.com www.cancinomusic.com
PERFORMANCES
Carnegie Hall ∙ Atlanta Symphony Summer Pops ∙ Montreux Jazz Festival ∙ Int’l Music Festival of Mexico City ∙ Newport Folk Festival ∙ New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival ∙ Beach Blanket Babylon ∙ Old First Concerts ∙ 42nd Street Moon ∙ Rrazz Room
Artists performed with include:
Joan Baez ∙ Rita Moreno ∙ Thelma Houston ∙ Liliane Montevecchi ∙ Mercedes Sosa ∙ Florence Henderson ∙ Sally Kellerman ∙ Paula West ∙ Maria Muldaur ∙ cellist: Ron Leonard ∙ mezzo-soprano: Janice Felty ∙ violinists: Pierre D’Archambeau ∙ Tracy Silverman ∙ Martha Caplin
MUSICAL DIRECTOR/CONDUCTOR
Lark Theater, “Chez Joey”, A Tribute To The Music Of Rodgers and Hart, Larkspur, CA Musical Director/Arranger/Pianist (2019)
Cinnabar Theater, “Love Linda”, The Music Of Cole Porter, Petaluma, CA (2018-2019) Musical Director/Pianist
Cinnabar Theater, “My Way”, Petaluma, CA (2018-2019) Musical Director/Pianist
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, “Idea of Order”, Ground Floor Project, Berkeley, CA (2017) Musical Director/Pianist/Conductor
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, “Life Without Makeup”, starring Rita Moreno, Berkeley, CA Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger (2011)
Palazzo - Germany, Holland, and Austria (2006 – 2012) Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger
Diablo Theatre Company, "My Way", Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA (2012) Musical Director/Pianist
Teatro Zinzanni - San Francisco, CA (2001 – 2006) Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger/Composer
Joan Baez - Performances throughout USA, Europe, Australia, and Canada Musical Director/Pianist/Arranger (1985-1990)
Martinez Opera, “Il Barbiere Di Siviglia”, Martinez, CA (2012) Musical Director/Conductor/Keyboardist
Bay Area Theatre Critics’ Circle – “Outstanding Musical Director Award” (1994)
“Bruce Vilanch and Sharon McNight” – Rrazz Room, San Francisco, CA (2009) Musical Director/Pianist
Morrisson Theatre Chorus - Hayward, CA (1996 – Present)
Musical Director/Conductor
Verismo Opera, "Lucia Di Lammermoor", Vallejo, CA (2012) Musical Director/Conductor
Atlanta Symphony Summer Pops - Atlanta, GA (1987) Conductor/Pianist/Arranger
Royal Viking Cruise Line
Musical Director/Pianist/Conductor (1993)
PIANIST/KEYBOARDIST
PRESS & COMMENTS
—Joan Baez
—Robert Commanday, Music Critic, San Francisco Chronicle
—Santa Fe Reporter
—Il Secolo XIX Genova, Italy
—Pat Craig, San Jose Mercury News
—Arts Alive and Well, New Mexico
STUDIO RECORDINGS
Producer/Pianist/Arranger
Pianist/Arranger/Keyboardist
Pianist
Arranger/Pianist
Pianist
Pianist/Arranger
Harpsichordist/Pianist
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
OTHER EXPERIENCE