Going beyond the scope of a typical recording business, the goal of Santiuste Sound Studio is to foster innovative projects, support initiatives preserving the rich musical heritage of the area, and capture acoustic instruments and voices in all of their complexity.

Rates:

For dates reserved in 2025 rates start at 300€ per day, including engineering and production. To encourage the development of longer-term projects that would not be viable in other recording studios or concert halls, large discounts are offered for stays of 4 or more days.

Music students and teachers from the Sierra Norte region are offered a 20% discount, and projects focusing on historical repertoire and figures from the area are offered a 40% discount.

A range of nearby accommodations are available. Prices for specific dates can be provided upon request.

Surroundings:

Santiuste Sound Studio is located in the Valle y Salinas del Salado, a Natura 2000 protected nature area along the valley of the Salado River renowned for its ecological, geological and archeological attractions. The closest town is the medieval cultural and religious hub of Sigüenza, now a popular tourist destination with its spectacular cathedral and castle.

Pickup can be arranged at the Madrid-Barajas Airport (1.5 hr away), Guadalajara-Yebes AVE train station (1 hr) or Sigüenza (15 min).

Accommodation in the area ranges from the local casa rural and nearby boutique hotel to the luxurious Parador of Sigüenza.

People:

Santiuste Sound Studio is owned by guitarist Elliot Simpson. Elliot has given premieres of works by such iconic figures as Sofia Gubaidulina, Alvin Lucier, Michael Finnissy, Walter Zimmermann, and Larry Polansky, and has worked closely with many other prominent young composers in the creation of new pieces. He has appeared in many of the arts capitals of the world, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, London, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Salzburg, and Shanghai, in master classes, workshops, and performances ranging from early music to free improvisation. His recordings can be found on the Microfest, Brilliant Classics, ECM, New World, Soundset and Hermes record labels.

Originally from New Mexico, USA, Elliot studied with David Tanenbaum at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and with Zoran Dukić at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. His Master’s degree in The Hague, as both soloist and chamber musician, was awarded “with distinction for his extraordinary contribution to new music.” He holds a doctoral degree in music from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.

Alongside performing, Elliot has worked as a recording engineer and producer for many years, most notably spending four years in the recording studios of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music alongside engineer and producer Jason O’Connell. His recordings as engineer and/or producer can be found on Naxos, Lindor, Brilliant Classics, World Edition, XI, Microfest and Infrequent Seams record labels.