Santos Ojeda
Encyclopedia
Santos Ojeda was a Cuban-born American classical pianist and pedagogue.
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
.
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).
in 1967 at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati
, where he would achieve full Professorship and finally retire in 1987. He was known to be an imaginative and enlightening clinician and had a reputation for sometimes inscrutable similes which nonetheless accomplished their purposes. For example, he might direct a player to “scoop it like you’re scooping ice cream,” or “play it like a drop of ink in a glass of milk,” or “play this like a wounded queen.” He trained many students who are performers and professors today, as any simple web search will reveal. “Aside from his natural ability for the piano and his perfect pitch, he was someone interested in art in general, whether in literature such as poetry and storytelling, or in painting, [or] architecture. … [Mr. Ojeda] was an aristocrat of the spirit; a very private and complex man. He had a great sense of humor, yet was very refined both as a teacher and in personal relationships.”
Life and Studies
Ojeda was born in CaibariénCaibarién
Caibarién is a municipality city in the Villa Clara province of Cuba.Caibarien is known as "La Villa Blanca" for its sands and beaches. They are famous for their "Parrandas" along with Remedios and Camajuani.-History:The town was founded on October 26, 1832 from a map designed by Estratón Bauza...
in the province of Villa Clara
Villa Clara
Villa Clara may refer to:*Villa Clara Province, Cuba*Villa Clara, Entre Ríos, Argentina...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. 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
Alejandro García Caturla
Alejandro García Caturla was a Cuban composer of art music and creolized Cuban themes.He was born in Remedios. At sixteen he became a second violin of the new Orquesta Sinfonica de La Habana in 1922, where Amadeo Roldán was concert-master . He also began composing at a young age, whilst studying...
, who accompanied a 15-year-old Ojeda for the premier in Cuba of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects....
. At age 17 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to study with assistants to Josef Lhévinne
Josef Lhévinne
Josef Lhévinne was a Russian pianist and piano teacher.Joseph Arkadievich Levin was born into a family of musicians in Oryol and studied at the Imperial Conservatory in Moscow under Vasily Safonov...
and Rosina Lhévinne
Rosina Lhévinne
Rosina Bessie Lhévinne was a Russian American pianist and famed pedagogue....
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the end of WW II, he stayed in Europe for a time and advanced his studies with Yves Nat
Yves Nat
Yves Nat was a French pianist and composer.-Biography:Yves Nat was born in Béziers and showed an early aptitude for both piano and composition. By the age of seven he was allowed to improvise each Sunday at the organ of Béziers' cathedral during mass...
of the Paris Conservatoire. With his return to New York City, he resumed his studies at Juilliard with Rosina Lhévinne
Rosina Lhévinne
Rosina Bessie Lhévinne was a Russian American pianist and famed pedagogue....
, 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
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Performances
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 HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Amadeo Roldán
Amadeo Roldán
Amadeo Roldán y Gardes was a Cuban composer and violinist. Roldán was born in Paris to a Cuban mulatta and a Spanish father...
. Ojeda's repertoire was wide, encompassing not only the Common practice period
Common practice period
The common practice period, in the history of Western art music , spanning the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, lasted from c. 1600 to c. 1900.-General characteristics:...
, 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).
Pedagogy
Ojeda taught at the Juilliard School (1955–1967), Columbia University (1957–1967) and then was appointed Artist in ResidenceArtist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
in 1967 at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, where he would achieve full Professorship and finally retire in 1987. He was known to be an imaginative and enlightening clinician and had a reputation for sometimes inscrutable similes which nonetheless accomplished their purposes. For example, he might direct a player to “scoop it like you’re scooping ice cream,” or “play it like a drop of ink in a glass of milk,” or “play this like a wounded queen.” He trained many students who are performers and professors today, as any simple web search will reveal. “Aside from his natural ability for the piano and his perfect pitch, he was someone interested in art in general, whether in literature such as poetry and storytelling, or in painting, [or] architecture. … [Mr. Ojeda] was an aristocrat of the spirit; a very private and complex man. He had a great sense of humor, yet was very refined both as a teacher and in personal relationships.”