Carlo Santos began his musical journey at six, studying the organ, and later the piano at twelve. After earning his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Calgary, he achieved the Associate Diploma (ARCT) in Piano Performance with First Class Honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2015. In 2020, Carlo completed the Licentiate of Piano Performance (LRCM) with First Class Honours with Distinction, earning the National Gold Medal for the highest mark in Canada. He also performed at the Honens Pro-Am competition in 2022 at the Bella Concert Hall.
Carlo teaches piano, music theory, harmony, and history to over 60 students in Calgary, with online students across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. His students range in age from four to seventy, and he welcomes all who are eager to learn and grow. In addition, Carlo is a sought-after performer for receptions, special events, and private functions.
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.