Juan Luis Montoro Santos (b. 1991) is a Spanish composer and sound artist based in The Hague and Málaga. He is currently experimenting with the boundaries between traditional instruments (either soloists or ensembles), performance techniques, and technology vs physicality His work frequently involves extended instruments, which incorporate embodied sensors to control live processing, as well as the analysis of electronic processes, which he uses as material for structuring his compositional ideas, reflecting on the analog vs digital world.
Over the last years, Juan Luis has created a series of works centered around the concept of extended instruments. Some of these works include "Liquid Data" (featuring face tracking and electronics), "Miles Away" (for an extended percussion table with solar panels, proximity sensors, and quad amplification), "Quantified Performer" (for an extended cello with a heartbeat sensor, galvanic sensor, tape machine feedback loop, and video mapping), and "Hyperfrequencies" (for Quiet Music Ensembles using extended instruments based on proximity sensors).
Juan Luis Montoro obtained his bachelor's degree at the Conservatory of Málaga (CSMM), and went to Zaragoza for master lessons by Tristan Murail, Stefano Gervasoni, Sánchez-Verdú, and Mauricio Sotelo. During his time at the Conservatory of Málaga, he collaborated in several audio-visual shows at the Teatro Cervantes , including "Bronenósets Potiomkin" (2014), "Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari" (2013), "Organología" (2013), and "100 años de Futurismo" (2014).
In 2015, he moved to The Netherlands, where he completed a post-graduate degree in Sonology at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. A year later, he started his Master's in Composition with Yannis Kyriakides, Peter Adriaansz, and Cornelis de Bondt. Before concluding his master studies, he took lessons from Hans Abrahamsen, Rozalie Hirs, Helmut Lachemann, Alexander Schubert, Kees Tazelaar, and Jan van de Putte.
During his time in The Hague, he was part of the Richard Barrett electroacoustic ensemble of improvisation for two years. He has also worked with live electronics at concerts and has built patches for performances of other composers and ensembles such as Peter Ablinger, Yannis Kyriakides, Diana Pérez Custodio, TIME (This Is Music and Theatre Education), and KABK (Royal Academy of Art). Later on, he studied with Sergio Luque (SuperCollider) and Alberto Bernal (Max MSP) at Katarina Gurska.
He has collaborated with ensembles such as Neue Ensemble, Ensemble Klang, Quiet Music Ensemble (Ireland), and Trio Zukan, Neopercusión, Vertixe Sonora and in events which include the Holland Festival (Amsterdam), Gaudeamus (Utrecht), Mixtur (Barcelona), Ciclo de Música Electroacústica (Málaga), Orgelpark (Utopa Organ, Amsterdam), Dag in de Branding and Spring Festival (The Hague), Festival de Música en Segura (Jaén), and Fundación Juan March and Conde Duque (Madrid).
