Carlo Santos started his musical studies on the organ at the age of six and on the piano at the age of twelve. In 2015, after a four-year hiatus from routine practice to complete his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Calgary, he completed the Associate Diploma (ARCT) in Piano Performance with First Class Honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Studying with Allen Reiser, he completed the Licentiate of Piano Performance (LRCM) in 2020 with First Class Honours with Distinction for which he was awarded the National Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music for receiving the highest mark across Canada. In 2022, he competed at the Honens Pro-Am competition and performed in the Bella Concert Hall at the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts.
As an active pianist, Carlo has performed in solo recitals across Alberta and has won scholarships and awards at local festivals and competitions in Calgary. He participated in masterclasses/private lessons with Roman Rabinovich, Luca Buratto, Rachel Naomi Kudo, Konstantin Shamray, Ingrid Fliter, and Katherine Chi.
He has adjudicated in festivals across Alberta since 2018, and his students have been recommended to provincial competitions. A recent highlight was being one of the youngest expert piano instructors at the CASSA Musical Arts Camp.
From age eight to eighteen, he was involved with the church music ministry alongside his two brothers, playing the organ and the piano weekly at practices and during mass. This experience laid the foundation for being a self-taught improviser on the piano: Carlo can play most contemporary music (rock, pop, country, religious, jazz standards) by ear within a few minutes of hearing it - a supplemental skill he teaches his students in their lessons.
Carlo teaches piano, music theory, harmony, and history in his Calgary studio, to over 60 students – some as young as four and some in their seventies. His online students extend across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Needless to say, he enjoys teaching students of all ages and skill levels, so long as they have an intrinsic desire to learn, are receptive to feedback, and work diligently to improve between lessons.
He is in demand as a musician for receptions, special events, and private functions.