ELENA DE SANTOS

Elena de Santos began her piano studies with Elena Aguado, and continued with Fernando Puchol at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música in Madrid. She completed her Postgraduate studies with Michael Leuschner at the Saatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany.

Santos studied Chamber Music with Mª Teresa Berrueta and Luis Rego, and later with Nicolás Chumachenco and Felix Gottlieb in Germany. She has completed a Master’s degree in Musical Creation and Interpretation at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid.

Santos has continued her piano studies, taking masterclasses with such well-known musicians as Jacques Rouvier, Akiko Ebi, Josep María Colom, Aquiles delle Vigne, Joaquín Soriano, Ramón Coll, Teresa Escandón, Almudena Cano, Andrzej Jasinsky, Graham Jackson and Anthony Spiri, among others.

She has received several awards from various competitions, including first prize at the “Jacinto Guerrero” National Piano Competition in Toledo; finalist at the “Ricard Viñes” International Piano Competition in Lérida; Injuve 2001 Music Circuits Program, and Young Musicians in Concert 2004, organized by the district of Castilla y León.

Santos has given piano recitals both as a soloist and as a member of various chamber music ensembles at festivals across Spain, Germany, Austria, the United States, Cuba, Costa Rica, and in Palestine.

She has played with the Comunidad de Madrid Orchestra, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Orchestra, the Scala Aretina Orchestra, the Toledo Music Orchestra International Forum, and ENCRIM, and has been conducted by such well-known Meastros as José de Eusebio, José Ramón Encinar, Pilar Jurado, Gabriella de Esteban, Alexis Soriano and Flores Chaviano.

Santos has premiered piano pieces by prestigious Spanish composers, some of which have been dedicated to her. She has recorded for the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation (RTVE) and German Southwest Broadcasting (SWR), and recorded an album called “Mujeres que dan la Nota” for the Cezanne Producciones label, which includes works by contemporary Spanish women composers. The CD was first presented at the New Music Miami Festival in the United States.

Currently, Elena de Santos combines her concert activity with teaching. She is a member of the Duo Hypatia, together with violinist Enrique Rivas, and is pianist of the Nuevo Ensemble de Segovia (“neSg”). Santos also teaches piano at the Conservatorio Profesional de Música “Teresa Berganza” in Madrid.