Nathan Santos
In 1968, Rosendo accepted a faculty position at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. With Harriet and baby Erik in tow, the family relocated to northeastern PA, where he would live the remainder of his life.
Nathan was born on June 29, 1970 and has continued the tradition with an eclectic musical background. Beginning formal piano lessons at age 5, and progressively learning other instruments (clarinet / saxophone, guitar / bass, percussion) as well as voice, he performed extensively with his family, church choirs, National Federated Music Clubs, National Piano Teachers’ Association, High School ensembles and musicals, District and Regional Choral and Band Festivals, and rock groups.
He spent his undergraduate years at Wilkes University as a music performance major, studying bass with Gary Karr pupil, Perry Orfanella, and also vocal studies with Richard Chapline, Dr. Stephen Barton, and Helen Ralston. As well as university ensembles, he performed professionally with other organizations. Some include tenor soloist with the Scranton Singers' Guild, Wyoming Valley Oratorio Society, and First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre, founding member of Cincopella (an a cappella vocal quintet), bassist for jazz and variety groups: Central City Nite Flight, River's Edge, Polka Dynamite, and teacher / counselor / conductor at the Encore Music Camp of PA.
After receiving his Bachelor's Degree, he then pursued his Master's of Music Degree at the University of Miami in Florida. At U.M. his focus was Jazz Performance, although he was a student of Dr. Lucas Drew (principal double bassist of the Florida Philharmonic) and performed with the university orchestra under the baton of Thomas Sleeper. Instruction was received gratefully and respectfully from Don Coffman (Jazz Bass, Jazz History, and Jazz Pedagogy), Rob Lussier (Jazz Arranging), Gary Keller (Jazz Improvisation), and Ron Miller (Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Composition, and Avant Garde Ensemble.)
He then moved to Johnstown, PA, to be with his wife, Kristen Shaw (also a very multi-talented educator and musician) a native of Reading, PA, and has since been performing and teaching in the surrounding areas including central and western PA, Maryland, and West Virginia. On August 29, 1998, Nathan and Kristen celebrated the birth of their first child, Ross Charles Santos. And on November 22, 1999, was born Ariana Lorena Santos.
As a musician with a variety of interests, Nathan has shared the stage with such respected performers as Bernadette Peters, Joe Morello, Sherryl Milnes, Lou Christie, John Blake, Jr., George Young, Bruce Hornsby, Olivia Newton-John, Andy Narell, Dave Samuels and many others. He has also appeared on various recordings representing a wide range of styles.
Additional Information
Nathan Santos:
http://www.nathansantos.com
http://www.myspace.com/nathansantos
White Noise:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=195273032
IUP:
http://www.arts.iup.edu/facmus/nsantos/
Audio
The Beauty of Life (1991)—composed by Rosendo Santos
Nathan Santos, tenor; Rosendo Santos, piano
Valley of Gold
Fragrance
Sea Of Life |
