Orlando Sanchez Soto graduated from the Institute of Arts in Cuba, where he received his Bachelor's degree in clarinet and taught for over a decade as an assistant professor. A multi-instrumentalist (piano, saxophone, clarinet), Soto is the founder of the Jazz Plaza Festival and chairs a noted jazz competition. He has played in more than 30 countries with such musicians as Chucho Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Craig Harris, Hamiet Bluiett, Hugh Ragin, Ernan Lopez-Nussa, Polito Ibáñez, Pablo Milanés, Bobby Carcassés, Milcho Leviev, Ira Sullivan, David Murray, and many others. He is also a renowned composer with over 100 registered works, many collaborations, and several discs.