Associate Professor of Piano; Chair of Keyboard
Instrumental Studies
The Hartt Schoolramossant@hartford.edu http://joseramossantana.com/
Education
The Juilliard School
A native of Puerto Rico, Jose Ramos Santana is one of the most acclaimed pianists of his
generation and an acknowledged master of Spanish music.
Jose Ramos Santana has appeared as a guest soloist with major orchestras such as the
New York Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London, Detroit Symphony,
Saint Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Rochester
Philharmonic, 92nd Street Y Orchestra, The New York Virtuosi, Casals Festival
Orchestra, Puerto Rico Symphony, and the orchestras of New Mexico, Sioux City, Utah,
Syracuse and many others. Additional solo performances include the Moscow
Philharmonic Latin-American tour, Orchestra of L'Hermitage of Saint Petersburg, the
Orchestra of Guatemala, the Orchestra of San Salvador, and the Orquestra de los Reyes in
Lima, Peru. He has collaborated with distinguished musicians and conductors such as
Krzsztoff Penderecki, John Adams, Dennis Russell Davies, Jerzy Semkow, Dimitri
Kitaenko, Joseph Silverstein, cellist Arto Noras, violinist Gregory Zhislin, and pianist
Vladimir Viardo.
Jose Ramos Santana's much lauded guest appearance with the American Composers
Orchestra at Carnegie Hall during the Sonidos de las Americas Festival was his third
Carnegie Hall performance in one year. Mr. Ramos Santana has also performed at
Zankel Hall and the Weill Recital Hall under the auspices of La Gesse Foundation.
A top prize winner of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and a
participant in the Xerox Piano Artist’s Program, he has appeared in music festivals such
as Spoleto, Caramoor, Casals Festival, Grant Park Festival in Chicago, International
Keyboard and Institute Festival at Mannes College, Washington International Piano
Festival, Inter-American Music Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Amalfi Coast
Music Festival in Italy.
His recital work has taken him to major venues throughout the United States, France,
Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Central America, and the Far East.
He has been featured in documentaries on the PBS network, A&E channel and CBS
Sunday Morning.
Jose Ramos Santana is also an established recording artist. His world premiere of
"Glosas" by Roberto Sierra on the Fleur de Son Label received critical acclaim. His
collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra also includes recordings of Ravel's
Piano Concerto in G and Saint- Saens Piano Concerto in G minor op. 22 He has also
recorded the complete works for piano and violin by the Spanish Catalonian composer
Xavier Montsalvage with violinist Eva Leon on the Naxos Label.
As an active member of Musica de Camara, Inc., Jose Ramos Santana has served as jury
member of the Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition for Young Pianists,
Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition, Liszt-Garrison International Piano
Competition, Louisiana International Piano Competition and William Kapell
International Piano Competition selecting jury.
Jose Ramos Santana is a graduate of the Juilliard School where he studied with Adele
Marcus, William Masselos and Sylvia Rabinof. He has also coached with Leon Fleisher
and Alicia de Larrocha.