Igor Santos is a composer of concert music and an intermedia artist whose work centers on mimetic relationships between found sounds, acoustic instruments, and video—elements which are dramatized through repetition and the use of microtonal keyboards.

 

His music has been described as “otherworldly and mysteriously familiar” (Chicago Classical Review), and as “exciting and clear... with a striking boldness" (Luigi Nono Competition Prize). His works have been performed internationally, by leading musicians such as Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Ensemble Dal Niente, Yarn Wire, Alarm Will Sound, Longleash, International Contemporary Ensemble, the American Composers Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. Igor has earned degrees in Music Composition from the University of Chicago, the Eastman School of Music, and the University of South Florida.

 

His honors include the American Academy in Rome Prize (2022), a Guggenheim Fellowship (2023), and additional prizes such as the International Ferruccio Busoni Competition, the Luigi Nono International Competition, the RED NOTE Competition, and the Salvatore Martirano Award. His work and research has been supported by Harvard University (Fromm), twice by the Library of Congress (McKim and Koussevitsky), by Chamber Music America, NewMusicUSA, among others.

 

A native of Curitiba, Brazil, Igor currently lives in Ithaca, NY, where he serves as Assistant Professor of Music at Cornell University. He will present recent works.