Originally from Los Angeles, Luke Santonastaso works as a musician, educator, and mentor throughout the United States, most recently settling in Orange County. He currently performs as a section member of the Santa Cruz Symphony and Sarasota Opera Orchestra. He regularly performs with orchestras across the west coast such as the New West Symphony, the Reno Philharmonic and the Fresno Philharmonic, among others. Luke has performed and worked alongside several esteemed artists such as Midori Goto, Maxim Vengerov, Osmo Vänskä, Lynn Harrell, Gilbert Kalish, Kim Kashkashian, and Augustine Hadelich. He has also received fellowships with the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, and Incontri in Terra di Siena music festivals. Luke is passionate about educating young musicians in his private studio and has worked with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, the Crowden School, and the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra as a coach and private instructor. He holds degrees from the Herb Alpert School of Music where he studied with Movses Pogossian and Guillaume Sutre of the Ysaÿe string quartet. While not wielding a bow, Luke enjoys technology, great food, and caring for his cats.