Dr. Andres E. Santana is a dynamic saxophonist and educator. He takes pride in his versatile artistry, innovative performances, and dedication to the saxophone and its instruction. His artistic endeavors are characterized by a commitment to both established and new repertoire. His concert programs frequently feature world premieres, with select performances highlighting works by Ana Lara Zavala, Arturo Fuentes, and LiliAurora Carrillo Madrigal, Enrico Chapela Barba, and Javier Torres Maldonado, among others. Dr. Santana’s commitment to new music is evident in his research, which focuses on commissioning and recording new works for the saxophone while promoting Mexican composers and educating future commissioning saxophonists. His recent album Sonidos Del Viento exclusively features Mexican composers, which he commissioned to compose both unaccompanied and accompanied works introducing new extended techniques for the saxophone.
Beyond the stage, Dr. Santana is a passionate educator with extensive experience in private instruction with students and ensembles of all ages and levels. He has provided instruction at Central Preston Middle School, Kingwood, WV, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Eastvale, CA, Katella High School, Anaheim, CA, and The Colburn School, Los Angeles, CA. He currently serves as Online Adjunct Faculty at Liberty University, providing valuable resources and instruction to aspiring musicians through remote instruction.
As an accomplished chamber musician, Dr. Santana was a semi-finalist in the 2024 North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Biennial Collegiate Quartet Competition with the Phaeos Quartet. He has received numerous accolades in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist and Chamber Music Competitions, securing first place in the Young Artist California State Division in 2018. His consistent success in the MTNA Young Artist and Chamber Music Competitions underscores his exceptional musicianship.
He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance from West Virginia University, where he studied under Dr. Jeffrey Siegfried. He earned both his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Santana plays on a Yamaha Custom Z with a Selmer Concept mouthpiece, a silver plated Ishimori ligature, and uses Légère Signature 3.75 synthetic reeds and Vandoren Blue Box 3.5 cane reeds.