Hitting All the Right Notes

When Aldre Delos Santos ’28 first visited Elmhurst University as a Mundelein High School student participating in the University’s celebrated Jazz Festival, he was struck by something he couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t just the music—it was the level of craft and intentionality behind it. “Just being able to see the high level of musicianship of the Jazz Band was very inspiring—and that’s one of the main reasons I chose Elmhurst,” he says.

Finding a Path to Music Business

Delos Santos started out as a jazz studies major, a natural fit for someone who has played trombone since fifth grade. Trumpet came later, inspired by the jazz greats he discovered during high school, including Arturo Sandoval, Lee Morgan and Roy Hargrove. By sophomore year he was playing both instruments, and when he applied to college, he chose trumpet as his primary instrument.

But over his first weeks at Elmhurst, his vision sharpened. He wanted to engage with music analytically, to understand the industry that makes the art possible. A conversation with John Towner, director of the Music Business program, changed everything. “He made me feel very at home,” Delos Santos says. “He wanted to know more about me and my goals.” After that conversation, Delos Santos changed his major to music business, with minors in jazz studies and communication.

Towner’s Principles and Procedures of Music Business course—a discussion-driven class centered on current industry events—became one of Delos Santos’ favorites. “It shined a light on a lot of different careers, and I thought it was very applicable to planning my future,” he says. The class also reinforced a lesson he now carries everywhere: In music and in life, strong communication is the foundation of everything else.

Stepping Into the Industry

One impactful experience Delos Santos has had at Elmhurst was a trip to Anaheim, California, for the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) conference—one of the largest music industry gatherings in the country. Made possible through the generosity of a University donor, the trip cost him nothing out of pocket. What he gained, however, was invaluable.

“I got to connect with so many industry professionals and learn more about how different aspects of the industry intersect and work,” he reflects. The group also visited record labels and other music-related businesses in Los Angeles, where they met Elmhurst alumni currently working at a major film and television studio and a major record label.

Hearing firsthand accounts of their career journeys—from Elmhurst to L.A.—made his own ambitions feel attainable. “It was great to hear about their pathways, and to see that people from here really made it out there,” Delos Santos says.

Other hands-on learning experiences were found closer to home. He landed a position as a college marketing representative for Arista Records, a Sony label, applying after Towner shared information about the opportunity. Selected as one of roughly 100 students nationwide who are working across major entertainment markets, Delos Santos and three other Chicago-area student representatives promote up-and-coming Arista artists, including BUNT. and Jonah Kagen. The role has allowed him to practice his music marketing skills and collaborate with students from other schools.

Gaining Experience Through Involvement

Delos Santos’ campus life is, by any measure, full. He performs in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Neal Alger Jazz Combo—playing trumpet in most ensembles and trombone in one. When not on stage, he’s a peer advisor, music librarian, and social media editor for Elmhurst University Bands. He also serves in the Music Business Student Union and works with Student Production Services.

This year, he took on the role of co-student manager for the Elmhurst Jazz Festival, shadowing outgoing senior Christopher Tejeda in preparation for leading the 60th anniversary festival next year. The position involves months of advance planning—all for an event that is largely student-run. In February, he had the opportunity to perform live on WGN’s Midday Fix to promote the 2026 festival. “It was my first time at a news station, and it was really cool to see behind the scenes of filming,” he says.

An Inviting Community

As the first in his family to attend college, Delos Santos wasn’t sure what to expect when he arrived on campus. What he discovered was a community that felt, from the very beginning, like it was designed to help students find each other. On his music visit day, he watched current students across the jazz, music business and music education programs interact and was struck by how well everyone knew one another. “The community is very cohesive,” he says. “Even outside the music program, there are a lot of different groups to be involved in, so you can make connections that way, too.”

The broader community of Elmhurst alumni has also been welcoming. In the classroom, guest speakers like Brian Goodheart ’07, a New York City-based writer and sound engineer working in film and TV, regularly make students feel connected to the music industry. “We get to meet so many professionals and performers that pursuing this career seems less daunting,” Delos Santos says.

Looking Ahead

After graduation, Delos Santos hopes to pursue a career in fine arts administration, music marketing or social media—niches where his analytical mindset and deep love of music converge. He’s drawn to the behind-the-scenes world that most people never see when they think about the music industry. “There’s so much more if you look closer—so many opportunities that people don’t think about,” he says.

Campus resources, faculty mentorship, industry connections and the Elmhurst alumni network have all provided Delos Santos with confidence about the future. And he encourages students considering a similar path to try new things. “Say yes. Take a chance on every opportunity you’re given and you’ll learn something, whether it’s something you like or something you didn’t know much about before.”

Go Far. Do Well. Visit elmhurst.edu/Admission to take the first step toward your future.