Alumnus Highlight - Giovanni Santos, Adjunct Trumpet Professor at La Sierra University and Director of Bands at Loma Linda Academy

Meet an LSU Music Alum:

Giovanni Santos, music educator and freelance trumpet performer in Southern California, is Adjunct Trumpet Professor at La Sierra University and Director of Bands at Loma Linda Academy, a position he has held since 2008. Mr. Santos is the former director of bands at Crescenta Adventist School and Maywood Academy High School (LAUSD).

Santos has performed nationwide as a soloist and chamber musician and is frequently featured on trumpet for television and feature film scores, most recently for Actually, Adieu My Love as trumpet soloist. This film was the winner of the 2010 Park City Film Festival “Jury Choice Gold Medal for Excellence for Best Impact of Music in a Feature Film”

He has performed as principal trumpet under the direction of noted composers and conductors, including Yasuo Shinozaki, Carl St. Clair, Alfred Reed, Frank Ticheli, and H. Robert Reynolds.

A 2003 B.Mus. performance graduate in trumpet at La Sierra University, he began his musical training at an early age while living in Puerto Rico. After his family moved to California, he began study on the trumpet and while attending San Diego Academy, performed in the school's band and choirs. He received both the John Philip Sousa and the National Choral awards at SDA.

While in academy, Santos began trumpet studies with Dr. Richard Hofmann at La Sierra University and continued under his tutelage when he attended LSU as a music major. He played principal trumpet in the university symphony orchestra and principal cornet in the Wind Ensemble. He also assisted Dr. Barbara Favorito, director of the ensemble, in rehearsals.

Santos was a winner and soloist in the annual LSU Concerto Concert and, following graduation, continued study on the trumpet at the University of North Texas College of Music with professor John Holt. He completed a Master of Music degree at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where he was a scholarship trumpet performance student of Boyde Hood and Donald Green of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His music education thesis was titled: “A Guide to Beginning Brass Instruction for Beginning Band Directors,” published by the USC Press.

Check out the LLA Band's facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LLA-Symphonic-Band/165819315529?sk=wall

Congrats to Gio and his students as they wrap up another successful school year. They are getting ready to depart on their band tour through Europe this spring.