Imer Santiago — Musician, Worship Leader, Speaker, and Music Educator

Musician. Educator. Worship Leader. Speaker.

Imer is an expertly-trained trumpeter, jazz musician, singer, and worship leader with 20 years of experience in the music industry. Originally from Lorain, Ohio, and of Puerto Rican descent, Imer speaks four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. His love of language influences his work as a performer, ensemble leader, and composer, adding exciting twists to classical pieces and incorporating multiple languages.

Imer’s love of music began in elementary school in his hometown of Lorain, Ohio, when he learned to play the trumpet. He played throughout middle and high school and continued his music studies at The Ohio State University, graduating with bachelor’s degrees in Jazz Studies and Atmospheric Sciences. After graduation, Imer moved to New Orleans to obtain his Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies. During his college years, Imer had the privilege of learning from musicians and educators like trumpet master Pharez Whitted, the late Clyde Kerr, Jr., and renowned pianist Ellis Marsalis.

Imer then moved to Nashville, immersing himself in the city’s musical culture and inspiring a new jazz movement in a town known for country music. As a performer and ensemble leader for local musical groups like El Movimiento and the Imer Santiago Quintet, he explored infusing various musical styles and languages into original and arranged compositions. He also served as a middle school band director with the Metropolitan Nashville Public School District and was an adjunct trumpet professor at Tennessee State University. Imer met and married his wife, Laisa, and they had their first two children in Nashville.

In 2015, the Santiagos moved to Central Florida to be closer to family. They have three children and live in St. Cloud, FL. Imer currently performs and leads worship at various churches, Christian events, and conferences throughout the year. He is also the Director of Bands at St. Cloud Middle School. When he’s not playing trumpet or leading worship gatherings, you can find him with his family watching his son’s baseball games, traveling throughout the United States, or making smoothies with his children.

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SERVICES

Musician & Band Leader

Imer is a jazz-trained trumpet and flügelhorn player as well as a singer. He has experience in many musical styles, from Top 40 hits to classically composed symphonies and hymns. His extensive training in improvisation is displayed in his arrangements of genres such as jazz, Caribbean, and gospel. Imer performs, arranges, and manages ensembles for concerts and special events, from conferences to weddings. Over his musical career, Imer has worked with various recording artists, such as Salvador, Jaci Velasquez, Kirk Franklin, TobyMac, and Group One Crew. He also performed at the Dove Awards and has opened for acts like the Carli Muñoz Trio.

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SERVICES

Music Educator

Imer provides private lessons, teaches, leads workshops, and serves as a guest conductor for children and adults ages 10 to 100. He has also taught jazz, concert band, chorus, music exploration, and keyboard to middle school students, at ages he believes are ideal for shaping students’ musical journeys. Imer offers private lessons in trumpet and other jazz instruments, using his technical background to bring this musical genre to a new generation. He has also taught math, science, Spanish, and PE. Imer works with students individually and in a classroom setting, using mutual respect as a catalyst for instruction.

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SERVICES

Worship Leader

Imer serves local and global church communities as a multiethnic worship leader, honoring a variety of cultures and languages in every arrangement. Imer combines his training in improvisation, jazz, and swing with his knowledge of North and South American music to create new interpretations of well-known worship songs. Imer works with churches, worship teams, and Christian organizations to facilitate inclusive worship gatherings that encourage Christ followers of every background to unite in praise. Imer was honored to lead worship with various global organizations, including the Ethnos Network Global Gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the InterVarsity LIVE! Online Series. He has also spent several years leading worship for Urbana, the largest missions conference in North America.

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Speaker

Imer speaks on a variety of subjects, including cultural awareness, multicultural worship, music education (including Jazz, Concert, and Mariachi Bands), establishing sustainable classroom momentum via cultural intelligence, and how to build diverse worship teams / music ensembles that perform culturally inclusive music in an authentic and honoring manner. He is available to speak at conferences and events, in-person and virtually. Imer has spoken at many events, including the Urbana 18 & Urbana 22 Missions Conferences, various webinars, churches, school districts, and online events. If you are interested in having Imer speak at your upcoming event, contact him via the form below.

Credentials & Awards

Professional Teaching Certificate, State of Florida: Instrumental Music K-12
1st-Year Teacher Award – St. Cloud Middle School, Florida
Teacher of the Year—McKissack Middle School, Tennessee
Rookie Arts Teacher of the Year—Osceola County Public Schools, FL
Edwina Hefner Award —Nashville Symphony

Education

University of New Orleans Masters of Music— Jazz Studies Performance
The Ohio State University—BM in Jazz Studies Performance
The Ohio State University—BS in Atmospheric Sciences

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LISTEN & SHOP

Albums, EPs, Worship & More

Urbana 22 Live: We Will Rise

This album includes 12 songs from the Urbana 22 Student Missions Conference.

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InterVarsity Live! Worship, Volume 1

This album includes songs from the InterVarsity Live! online series.

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Urbana 18 Live: Faithful Witness

Urbana Worship is a collective of artists and campus ministers who are passionate about global, multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual music that draws people deeper into the heart of God and God’s love for the nations. We’re rooted in InterVarsity’s Urbana Student Missions Conference, one of the largest missions conferences in North America. Generations of students — more than 300,000 — have found their place in God’s global mission as Urbana participants.

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All Things New Single

Latest single release by Imer Santiago.

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Dios De Toda La Creación/God of All Creation EP (instrumental tracks)

Instrumental tracks from the EP.

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Dios De Toda La Creación/God of All Creation EP

Imer Santiago reveals a portion of his heart for reconciliation of the nations and boldly declares that Central Florida has become a home base for a rapidly growing global movement. This three-track original EP features multicultural, multilingual worship music.

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El Movimiento (The Movement)

El Movimiento is a contemporary jazz septet led by percussionist Giovanni Rodriguez, trumpeter Imer Santiago, and saxophonist Rahsaan Barber. This album features original Latin jazz and World Music compositions influenced by the world’s musical hotbeds like New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Africa.

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Para Laisa (Single)

This single is Imer’s instrumental tribute to Laisa on the event of their 10th wedding anniversary.

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Hidden Journey

Imer’s debut solo jazz album showcases his talent as a trumpet stylist, composer, and influencer in the world of jazz.

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Available now: charts and arrangements for original worship songs by Imer Santiago.
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UPCOMING EVENTS

Shows, Speaking Events, Worship & More

November 2024

11/3/2024 Imer @ Harvest Students (Lake Nona)
Imer will co-lead musical worship for Harvest Community Church’s Student Ministry. Doors open at 5:30PM in Auditorium. Worship begins at approximately 6:15PM. All Middle & High School students are welcome!

11/7/2024 Imer @ Lakeview Elementary School (St. Cloud)
Imer will direct and perform the U.S. National Anthem with St. Cloud Middle School students at Lakeview Elementary School for their annual Veterans Day Ceremony. 9:00AM.

11/9/2024 Imer @ Orlando City Soccer Club Playoff Match

Imer, along with trumpeter José Valle and alto saxophonist Keegan Santiago, will perform the United States’ National Anthem at approximately 6:04PM, prior to kickoff between the Orlando City Soccer Club and Charlotte Football Club at 6:10PM! This is the the third and deciding match of this Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs 1st Round Series. Vamos Orlando!

Orlando City Website |

11/10/2024 Imer @ Harvest Students (Lake Nona)
Imer will co-lead musical worship for Harvest Community Church’s Student Ministry. Doors open at 5:30PM in Auditorium. Worship begins at approximately 6:15PM. All Middle & High School students are welcome!

Musician. Educator. Worship Leader. Speaker.

SERVICES

Musician & Band Leader

SERVICES

Music Educator

SERVICES

Worship Leader

SERVICES

Speaker

Credentials & Awards

Education

LISTEN & SHOP

Albums, EPs, Worship & More

Urbana 22 Live: We Will Rise

InterVarsity Live! Worship, Volume 1

Urbana 18 Live: Faithful Witness

All Things New Single

Dios De Toda La Creación/God of All Creation EP (instrumental tracks)

Dios De Toda La Creación/God of All Creation EP

El Movimiento (The Movement)

Para Laisa (Single)

Hidden Journey

Available now: charts and arrangements for original worship songs by Imer Santiago. View Charts

UPCOMING EVENTS

Shows, Speaking Events, Worship & More

SEE THE LATEST ON WHAT IMER IS UP TO

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Available now: charts and arrangements for original worship songs by Imer Santiago.
View Charts