Appointed to the National Symphony Orchestra’s clarinet section by Maestro Leonard Slatkin in 1999, Paul Cigan enjoys a career as orchestral clarinetist, chamber musician, teacher and concerto soloist. In addition to the NSO, Mr. Cigan can frequently be heard performing with the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, 21st Century Consort, and the Smithsonian Chamber Players as well as recordings with those ensembles on Dorian, Bridge, and Naxos labels. In 2012 Mr. Cigan premiered Donald Crockett’s Dance Concerto with the 21st Century Consort and performed a special wind ensemble version of the piece with the University of Maryland Wind Orchestra in 2015. Prior to the NSO, Mr. Cigan held principal posts with the San Antonio Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and Virginia Symphony.

An active teacher in the Washington, DC area, Mr. Cigan is currently on the faculties of The University of Maryland at College Park. Mr. Cigan is also active in the NSO’s education department, instructing members of the Youth Fellowship Program and Summer Music Institute.

Other activities include performing at the Grand Teton Music Festival and returning to the National Orchestral Institute at The University of Maryland as coach and teacher.

Mr. Cigan studied with Anthony Gigliotti, former principal clarinetist of The Philadelphia Orchestra, and is a graduate of Temple University.