Rate My Professor Giovanni Santos

Santos is a prolific composer with over 30 works published exclusively by Murphy Music Press, drawing inspiration from his Puerto Rican upbringing, Cuban-Dominican heritage, and family life. Key compositions include "Chávez, 1927" (2022), premiered at the University of the Pacific; "Dolores, AmeriCan: Symphony for Band" (2023), nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Music; "Timba" (2022) and "Mayagüez" (2021), premiered at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic; "I Dream Awake" saxophone concerto (2022), world premiered by the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble; and "Voyages" (2018), performed at the Kennedy Center. His music has been performed by ensembles at the University of Michigan, UCLA, University of Illinois, Florida State University, and Tanglewood Music Center. Under his leadership, the La Sierra University Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in 2018 and toured Europe. Santos is a sought-after guest conductor and clinician, presenting at the Midwest Clinic, College Band Directors National Association, and World Association of Symphonic Bands conference. He received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Minority Band Directors National Association for contributions to the wind band repertoire.