Santos Ojeda

Santos Ojeda (January 18, 1917 – May 27, 2004) was a Cuban-born American classical pianist and pedagogue.

Ojeda was born in Caibarién in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba. He began studying piano at age 3 with his mother, Maria Luisa Valdes de Ojeda. His skills developed rapidly and he was discovered by conductor and composer Alejandro García Caturla, who accompanied a 15-year-old Ojeda for the premier in Cuba of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. At age 17 he moved to New York City to study with assistants to Josef Lhévinne and Rosina Lhévinne of The Juilliard School of Music, but was ultimately accepted directly, becoming the first ever foreign-born student admitted to Juilliard. Later he enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in World War II. After the end of WW II, he stayed in Europe for a time and advanced his studies with Yves Nat of the Paris Conservatoire. With his return to New York City, he resumed his studies at Juilliard with Rosina Lhévinne, ultimately graduating with honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance followed by a Master’s degree. Later he received the Professional Diploma from Columbia University.

His New York City debut was October 20, 1952, at Town Hall, where he would perform several times. Ojeda frequently toured the major centers of Europe, North and South America, as well as presented concerts in his homeland of Cuba. During one visit to Cuba he performed the Cuban premier of the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 in C-minor, with the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Amadeo Roldán. Ojeda's repertoire was wide, encompassing not only the Common practice period, but also including major works of the 20th century and of contemporary composers, including Latin American composers such as Ginastera. At his 4th Town Hall recital on December 20, 1969, he performed the New York City debut of Hugh Aitken’s Piano Fantasy (1966). He also performed at Lincoln Center (Alice Tully Hall).

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