Classical guitarist Javier de los Santos began his formal music studies in 1998 in guitar performance under Francisco Javier Muro Guevara at the Unidad Académica de Música de la Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (UAMUAZ) in the State of Zacatecas, México. In 2006, under the guidance of Mr. Eric vanDiver Nohe, Javier earned his Bachelor of Arts in Guitar Performance at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. Javier holds a Master of Music in Guitar Performance from the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music and studied with renowned Maestro Ricardo Iznaola.
De los Santos has performed extensively in México, U.S., Spain and Brazil. His recent performances include one at the Sherbino Theather in Ridway, Colorado, organized by the Ouray County Performing Arts Guild and the Sherbino Theater; with the Seraphic Fire Professional Choral Institute at the Aspen Music Festival and School at Harris Concert Hall in Aspen, Colorado; a solo concert at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia, Colorado; and with the Apollo Chamber Players from Houston, Texas at the GJSO Chamber Concert Series. He has studied and performed at the CSU La Guitarra Española in Granada, Spain; has performed with Pepe Romero and the Romero's Guitar Quartet at the Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute in Oklahoma City; with Charlotte Mc Clain, harpsichord, performing works for harpsichord and guitar at the Basalt Regional Library Concert Series and with CMU's 'Trio Meloso,' composed of Mary Lindsey Bailey, DMA, on oboe and Jane Kuenzel, on flute, at the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra's 'Chateau Chamber Concerts'. He has performed also with Dr. Bailey at the 'Musica no Museo, VII Rio Winds Festival' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; with the Grand junction Symphony Orchestra performing Antonio Vivaldi’s Guitar Concertos in D major and A major and the 'Fantasia para un gentil hombre' for guitar and orchestra by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo; with CMU faculty members Darin Kamstra, DMA, (percussion) Arthur Houle, DMA, (piano) and Ron Waylon Jordan (bass), performing Claude Bolling's Concerto for Classical Guitar and Jazz Piano Trio. De los Santos has performed for the Curiosity Project Retreats at Gateway Canyons Resort; held a recital at Brigham Young University in Utah, and has performed with the Boulder Symphony Orchestra, Symphony in the Valley and CMU Symphony Orchestra performing 'Concierto de Aranjuez' by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. He has worked with Lisa Jacobson and Juanita Ulloa at 'Proyecto Cancion Espanola' in Granada, Spain and has performed at the Aspen Music Festival and School; the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Brunswick, Maine; at The Little Noon Music in Grand Junction, Colorado; and at the XV Semana Cultural de Zacatecas in Zacatecas, Mexico, various recitals and performances in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Since the Fall 2015, de los Santos has been guitar instructor for the Lead Guitar-Aspen Music Festival and School Guitar Programs in the Roaring Fork Valley. He is also the president and artistic director of the Western Colorado Classical Guitar Society based in Grand Junction, Colorado. De los Santos lives in Grand Junction and enjoys teaching guitar privately and teaches Music Theory and Guitar at Colorado Mesa University.
He is also a guitar instructor at Independence Academy Charter School, music director at St. Joseph Catholic Church and founder and artistic director of Mariachi San Jose based in Grand Junction, Colorado. De los Santos was the first place winner of the 2009 Denver Classical Guitar Society Solo Debut Competition and semifinalist at the 2010 Texas Annual Guitar Competition and Festival.