AJ Santa CruzPortfolio · Rev 2026.1Cambridge, MA · MIT

Off the clock

Off the Clock

The engineering is most of the story, not all of it. Away from the bench I play a lot of music.

Music

AJ playing the piano — On piano.

I have played through concert band, jazz combos, and marching band, mostly on brass, with time at the piano and on bass. The same thing that pulls me toward hardware pulls me toward music: a lot of small, exacting details that only add up if you get each one right.

A few pieces

Kapustin, Concert Etude No. 1

Nikolai Kapustin. A jazz-inflected concert etude, in recital.

AJ at the piano on a concert stage — On stage.

In concert

Chopin, Waltz in A♭ Major

Frédéric Chopin.

Main melody

Section A

Mixed Nuts

Official HIGE DANDism, the Spy × Family opening.

Verse 1

Main melody

AJ playing trumpet under stage lights — Trumpet.

Marching band in blue and gold uniforms in a stadium — Marching band.

Playing bass guitar in a small combo — Jazz band.

AJ at the keyboard at a graduation party — Graduation gig.

AJ on keys with a saxophonist at an outdoor gig — Graduation gig, on keys.

AJ on keyboard with a saxophonist at an event — Playing a walk-in set with a saxophonist.

A formal concert ensemble in black — Concert ensemble.

On stage with the ensemble after a performance — After the set.

Contact