Philip Santos

Philip Santos is a Lecturer of Violin & Viola at the Department of Music, California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), where he has taught since 1999. He directs the String Ensemble and coordinates musical programs, including performances for the Glenn Glasow Memorial Concert. His professional affiliations include roles as Concertmaster of the Fremont Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of the Marin Symphony, and Principal Second Violin of the California Symphony. He has also performed with renowned orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony and Chicago Symphony, as well as with artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Luciano Pavarotti.

Mr. Santos has contributed to Grammy-winning recordings, including collaborations with Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony, and has participated in film soundtrack recordings with the Skywalker Symphony. His chamber music performances span Bay Area venues like the San Francisco Symphony’s Chamber Music Series and Carnegie Recital Hall. He actively engages in music education, teaching at Patten Academy and coaching youth orchestras such as the East Bay Youth Orchestra and Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.

Beyond academia, his career highlights include solo performances with the Berkeley Symphony under Kent Nagano and serving as Concertmaster for the Grateful Dead tribute concert with Bob Weir and the Marin Symphony. His outreach efforts include in-school music programs with cartoonist Morrie Turner in Oakland public schools.