Hello! My name is Santiago Pizarro, and I am an opera singer and film music composer from Lima, Peru. Music has been the centre and driving force of my life for as long as I can remember. As an award-winning tenor, I have dedicated more than half of my life to mastering my craft, earning a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College & Conservatory and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School. My career as an international opera singer was thriving — until life took an unexpected turn.

Due to a temporary health condition related to the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been unable to continue performing. This has been a heartbreaking and deeply frustrating difficulty, as I had to put my career into a halt and cancel all my scheduled performance engagements. When this happened, part of me felt that my world had fallen apart, but in the midst of this painful and uncertain moment, I also found the time and space I needed to explore one of my other passions – composition. I had been doing this for several years on and off, as writing music gave me a sense of fulfillment like few things in this world. As I reflected on my love for the various genres I grew up with, including Latin American genres, for musicals, operas, TV and film, I realised that the best way for me to gain experience composing for orchestra and choir, was to study film music.

Last year, I was accepted into the Master of Fine Arts in Music for Motion Pictures & Contemporary Media, at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe (FSAE), one of the world’s top institutions for film music composition, ranked by The Hollywood Reporter in 2024. Attending the FSAE is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has allowed me to learn from top industry professionals, collaborate on real-world film projects, and equipped me with the skills to continue sharing my passion for music in a new and impactful way. Funding this education, along with the cost of living and travel is a significant challenge, which your generous contributions would help me cover:

Tuition: $13,500

Living Expenses: (6 months)

Travel Costs: $1,300 (return flight to Lima, Peru)

Unforeseen expenses: $375 (5% of budget, excluding tuition)

TOTAL: $21,365

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NOTE: If you prefer donating directly to my bank account, which would be helpful for me as well, as most of these funds are urgent, please contact me.

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To show my appreciation, I want to give back to those who support me, so please, share your name and contact details, and I will be sending you:

*Upcoming post*: Santiago Pizarro and Shawn Chang - Till Havs | NYFOS (2021)

In addition, I will offer a special discount for commissioning a piece (please, contact me for details).

Your support isn’t just about funding an education — it’s about helping an artist rebuild a career and create music that inspires and moves others around the world.

How You Can Help

Join me on my journey via:

Thank you for your kindness and for being part of this next chapter in my life.

With much gratitude,

Santiago Pizarro

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More videos of me singing: