Join us at our Alumni Concert on August 18th to hear flutist John Robert (JR) Santiago ‘20 play Fantaisie on Themes from C.M. von Weber’s “Der Freischütz”. 

JR recently graduated from UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance and is preparing to pursue his master’s at The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University in the fall. Below, he reflects on memorable moments since he graduated from PCM, including his feature on NPR’s From the Top as the 2020 Jack Kent Cooke recipient, and playing with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl’s 2023 Summer Series. He touches on what he’s learned about the importance of music and the reward of seeing his hard work pay off. 

When looking back on all of your various musical accomplishments from high school, are there any that stand out?

One of the most memorable moments was when I was featured on “From The Top”, the classical music radio show on NPR that showcases young musicians, and I’ve taken that experience with me to this day. The program was both a radio show (which was really nerve-wracking and really fun!) and a week-long arts leadership program where we got to be arts ambassadors. We got to visit a home for people who were visually impaired. And in that community, we were able to reach out and give back through music. It taught me the importance of music and that, in order for our art form to stay alive, people need to be able to experience it so they can fully understand the true beauty of it. You can work hard, you can be passionate, you can even be as talented as you want to be, but it doesn’t mean anything if you’re not giving it to the community around you.

Can you discuss what you’ve been up to since you graduated from PCM?

I just graduated from UCLA with my bachelor’s in flute performance, which is kind of crazy. So since I graduated from PCM, I’ve just been honing in on the fine details of my craft and playing. I still have a long way to go but I think I’m in a lot better shape than I was four years ago. And of course, music is a never-ending process and we’re gonna be working on things for the rest of our lives.

Also, I was able to perform the world premiere of a piece for two flutes and orchestra, called Orfeo V by Thea Musgrave. I got to premiere it at the Hear Now Festival, which is a contemporary music festival in LA that features local, living composers.

Another really crazy experience for me was playing in the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl last summer. The most memorable part was when we were playing on stage and I looked out at the audience – it was so big that everyone looked like ants. There are no words to describe how surreal it felt. It was such a full circle moment because one of the first classical music concerts I ever watched was the LA Philharmonic playing at the Hollywood Bowl. As a classical musician, there are a lot of things that you work hard for. And there are a lot of goals you have in mind to keep going. One of those goals for me was playing in the very same orchestra that sparked my love for classical music a long time ago. It was a highly rewarding experience. At times, it’s also emotional to think about because you put your whole life into this – to actually experience something that confirms and validates the reason you’ve struggled to do this means a lot.

How are you feeling about starting your Master’s program at Johns Hopkins’ Peabody Institute?

I’m really excited to start, especially because the professor, Marina Piccinini, is one of my favorite flute players. I’m really excited to further hone in on my craft, so that I could have the tools that I need to do this for a living. Going into grad school I’m basically carving my own path for myself, which is really exciting, but also frightening at the same time. But big change is really good so I’m just looking forward to experiencing a lot of new and valuable things.

JR was last interviewed back in 2016 where he discussed audition tips and how his time at PCM helped him prepare for nerve-wracking performances. Click here to read.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.