A native of Mexico, Santiago Diaz began playing guitar at the age of 13 at the National School of Music in Mexico City and made his first public recital two years later at the Sala Huehuecóyotl. Acclaimed for his lyrical and passionate performances, Mr. Diaz is one of the leading virtuoso guitarists of his generation and is an active concert guitarist in both Mexico and the United States.

The Boston Globe wrote “He’s a really spectacular player. The combination of his technique and his passionate performance is really not to be missed”…”A player with flair, lyricism, and technical finesse”. According to the guitar figure Joaquín Clerch “Santiago is a young virtuoso who possesses a secure technique, a beautiful sound and an imaginative and sincere musicality”. Moreover, legendary guitarist Eliot Fisk said “He is an extraordinary young virtuoso with a solid technique, unique artistic interpretation and superb musicality”. In addition, renowned guitarist David Leisner said, “He is blessed with a strong, perfectly natural musical instinct and with an impressive technical facility on the guitar”.

Highlighted performances include solo recitals at the Hall of Ideas in Boston, the Newport Art Museum in Newport RI, Masters of the Future Concert Series in Newport, the Boston Athenaeum, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, First Church as part of FirstNight Boston, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico, the Merida International Guitar Festival in Mexico, and a solo recital at the Manuel M. Ponce Hall in Mexico City as part of the Bellas Artes Guitar Cycle. Mr. Dìaz had his solo debut in Jordan Hall in June of 2007, to great success, as part of the prestigious Boston GuitarFest directed by guitar virtuoso Eliot Fisk.

Future engagements include concerts with the Mexico City Chamber Orchestra, the Queretaro Camerata Orchestra, recital at the Ocampo Theater in Cuernavaca as part of the Morelos International Guitar Festival, and a solo recital at the Les Cordes Pincees International Guitar Festival in Morocco.

Mr. Diaz received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in guitar with distinction in performance at the New England Conservatory in Boston where he studied with David Leisner and Eliot Fisk. Both degrees were possible thanks to scholarships granted by the same institution.