Collection: Lee Santana

Lee Santana (born in Florida, USA, in 1959) is an internationally renowned lutenist, composer, and performer of historical music who has lived and worked in Germany since 1984. He comes from a family of musicians and began his musical career as a jazz and rock guitarist before becoming fascinated by classical music and, in particular, the historically informed performance practice of early modern music. He received diplomas in early music practice and music theory summa cum laude from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he studied with lute masters such as Pat O'Brien and Stephen Stubbs.

Since moving to Europe, Lee Santana has worked as a freelance lutenist, continuo player, soloist, and composer. He has performed at major early music festivals and has appeared as a soloist with many renowned ensembles, including the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, The Harp Consort, Hesperion XX, and Musica Fiata. His long-standing musical partnership with gambist Hille Perl is a central focus of his artistic work, both in duo and in formations such as Sirius Viols and The Age of Passions.

Repertoire and artistic focus

Lee Santana's artistic spectrum encompasses Renaissance and Baroque music, expanded by his compositional work and interdisciplinary projects in which historical sound worlds enter into dialogue with contemporary elements. As a performer, he combines stylistic authenticity with personal depth of expression and a lively enthusiasm for music-making, which can be heard in both chamber music ensembles and solo programs. His compositional works include pieces for lute, viola da gamba, recorders, and small ensembles, and repeatedly explore the connection between historical practice and contemporary perspectives.

Recordings with Carpe Diem Records

Carpe Diem Records has released several recordings with Lee Santana, showcasing him as a lutenist, composer, and creative musician. The recordings presented here cover a broad spectrum—from historically informed lute interpretation to programmatically diverse ensemble projects to works that combine Renaissance and Baroque music with contemporary influences.

🌐 Official profiles & music

Lee Santana is represented on the following official platforms:

Lee Santana's official website

Wikipedia on Lee Santana

Lee Santana on Spotify // Apple Music // Tidal