Cory Palmer

Cory Palmer joined the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as principal bass in September 2017. Prior to joining the RPO Mr. Palmer was principal bass of the Canton (OH) Symphony Orchestra and held section bass positions with the Sarasota Opera and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 

Outside of the RPO, Mr. Palmer is a regular substitute musician with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed chamber music with the Society for Chamber Music in Rochester and ChamberFest Canandaigua.

During the summers Mr. Palmer has performed with the Pittsburgh Festival Opera; Artosphere Festival Orchestra in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan; Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina; and the Pierre Monteux School in Hancock, Maine.

While growing up in Atlanta, GA, Mr. Palmer was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and studied with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra principal bassist Ralph Jones. After high school Mr. Palmer continued his studies at Michigan State University, Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music, and Carnegie Mellon University. His major teachers were Ralph Jones, Jack Budrow, John Hood, Orin O’Brien, and Jeff Turner.

Mr. Palmer has been an adjunct professor of bass at Nazareth College since 2019 and joined the Eastman Community Music School faculty in 2022.