2026 Adjudicators

Carlo Santos is a National Gold Medalist in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Born and raised in Calgary, he began his post-secondary studies in mechanical engineering at the University of Calgary before pursuing his true passion for music. He completed both the Associate Diploma (ARCT) in Piano Performance with First Class Honours and the Licentiate Diploma (LRCM) with Distinction under the mentorship of Allen Reiser. In 2020, he received the Royal Conservatory’s National Gold Medal for achieving the highest mark in Canada on the LRCM examination.

An active performer, Carlo has given solo recitals across Alberta and California and competed in the 2021 Honens Pro-Am Competition. He has participated in masterclasses with concert pianists Ingrid Fliter, Martín García García, Roman Rabinovich, Katherine Chi, Konstantin Shamray, and Rachel Naomi Kudo.

Today, Carlo is the founder and director of Virtus Music, a Calgary-based studio dedicated to helping students play the music they love while cultivating discipline, artistry, and joy. His students range from young beginners to advanced diploma candidates across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

At the heart of Carlo’s teaching philosophy is engagement — the intersection of passion, proficiency, and enjoyment. Through Virtus Music, he hopes to nurture lifelong relationships with music—one that grows with each student and becomes an authentic expression of who they are.