Everything Band: Episode 26 - Giovanni Santos

Giovanni Santos of La Sierra University joins me to discuss social media, being selfless, and his willingness to take risks.

Topics:

• Giovanni’s background including his time in college and his teaching stops including starting a band program in a new high school with some special challenges.
• The music program at La Sierra University and tips for building a program.
• The importance of being true to yourself. Do things the way that you think that they should be done.
• The value of having guest composers, conductors, and other teachers into your band room and giving your students an experience that they will remember.
• Special things take time to build. Have patience and persistence and good things will happen.
• Building relationships by being a nice person, not letting people down, and listening to your heart.
• Not having regrets and making your dreams happen any way that you can.

Links:

• La Sierra University
• Giovanni Santos
• Holst: First Suite in E-flat
• La Sierra Conducting Institute 2017
  

Biography:
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Giovanni Santos serves as assistant professor and Director of Wind and Percussion Studies at La Sierra University, where he directs the University Wind Ensemble, Big Band, and teaches courses in instrumental music education, popular music, and conducting.. For 7 years, Professor Santos had the privilege of leading the band department at Loma Linda Academy, where he led their Wind Symphony in performances across the United States and Europe.

Santos has led successful performances in such venues and festivals as the Notre Dame Cathedral of Chartres (France), Fete de la Musique in Paris, San Giovanni Valdarno Classical Music Festival (Italy), Teatro Titano (Republic of San Marino), the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, ForFest International New Music Festival (Czech Republic), MaskFest International New Music Festival (Republic of San Marino), San Ignazio di Loyola Basilica (Rome). Santos will lead the La Sierra University Wind Ensemble in performance at Carnegie Hall this coming March, 2018. Professor Santos also enjoys frequent engagements as a guest conductor/clinician for festivals across the US, Mexico, and Europe.
Prof. Santos has proudly implemented a yearly wind band conducting workshop at La Sierra University, and has worked alongside Prof. H. Robert Reynolds and Dr. Thomas Lee, helping some of the brightest young music educators in the U.S. Santos welcomes Prof. Allan McMurry to this year’s workshop.

As a composer, Prof. Santos has premiered his works across the United States and Europe. In January, the United States Naval Academy Band Brass Ensemble will premiere his composition in the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In classes, lessons, and workshops, his conducting mentors have included, Barbara Favorito, Donald Thurber, H. Robert Reynolds, Sharon Lavery, Mallory Thompson, Tim Robblee, Frank Battisti, Mark Davis Scatterday, and Brad Lubman. Santos had the privilege of studying trumpet with Dr. Richard Hofmann, Boyde Hood, and Donald Green.

Santos is a graduate of La Sierra University (B. Mus). He earned his MM in Music Education from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he was also a scholarship trumpet student. He continues an active performance schedule as a freelance musician (trumpet), and has been published by the International Trumpet Guild Journal.

Professor Santos is inspired by his family. His wife Tanya, is an elementary teacher in Perris, CA. Tanya and Giovanni are proud parents of Gianna and David.