LIsette Santiago

Lisette Santiago is a Grammy-Award winning (2020) and nominated (2025) percussionist, vocalist, composer and educator from Brooklyn, NY. Having been accepted into The Metropolitan Children's Opera at age 9, Lisette later received classical and jazz vocal training at Fiorello LaGuardia H.S. of Music and Art and Columbia University's joint program with The Juilliard School.  Primarily versed in Latin percussion, Lisette studied and performed in Cuba and the US, and was first recognized as one of only a handful of female Batá players in the U.S.  Active within New York City's Brazilian music scene, Lisette toured extensively with award winning, Brazilian percussionist, Cyro Baptista as both a featured vocalist and percussionist.  She later became active as a pit percussionist, performing in mostly regional venues such as The Barrington Stage Company, La Mama E.T.C and Paper Mill Playhouse. Lisette has recorded and performed in many genres with such artists as Jason Robert Brown, Cyro Baptista, Jeremy Pelt, Ron Carter, Warren Smith, Vernon Reid and Femi Kuti  As both side musician and band leader, she has played notable venues such as Madison Square Garden, Radio City Hall, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola and The Kennedy Center.