Corina Santos

Pre-College
  • Early Childhood
Continuing Education
  • Violin
Corina Santos Headshot

Contact

Departments

Pre-College

Courses Taught

Violin, Early Childhood

Education

MM, DePaul University

BM, The University of Texas at Austin

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Austin, TX

What is your favorite recording? Why?

I love the entirety of Randall Goosby's album, Roots. His playing is so brilliant and soulful, and the album highlights the works of under-performed composers, such as Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, William Grant Still, and Florence Price. 

What are you passionate about outside of music?

I love to dance! I try and take one dance class per week at Dance Mission Theater. I think it is so important as musicians that we are able to feel rhythm and movement in our bodies. For me, it creates an even more joyful connection to music that I already enjoy. 

Who were your major teachers?

Janet Sung, Sandy Yamamoto, Elbert Tsai

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

I love when my students ask me "why?" To me, there's nothing better than a student who is curious and wants to understand the reasoning behind how violin playing works. It's normal to feel shy about asking your teacher a question, but remember that this is what they are here for! Every time I explain something to a student, I gain a better understanding of that concept myself. When a student asks "why," they will always gain always more information that will help them become a better player.

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

I have always been very interested in other languages and cultures, so I think my dream job (in another reality) is to be an interpreter! I would also enjoy teaching English as a Second Language or working to assist people immigrating to the United States from other countries.

Biography

Corina Santos is a violinist and music educator from Austin, TX. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master’s degree from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.

Corina is a faculty member of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Pre-College, and maintains a studio of private students in the Bay Area. Additionally, she has served as a teaching artist and faculty member for various community and non-profit music organizations in Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco. During the summers, she serves as Teaching Assistant to Janet Sung at the Meadowmount School of Music. Corina's teaching style centers and honors the individuality of each of her students, helping them build skills to achieve a sense of mastery and confidence. 

Corina has performed as a soloist with the Austin Civic Orchestra and has worked with acclaimed musicians including Danielle Belen, Sally O’Reilly, Kikuei Ikeda, the Juilliard String Quartet, and the Miró Quartet. When she is not playing or teaching, Corina enjoys latin dancing, listening to podcasts, and visiting San Francisco’s many parks.

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