Oren Santillo

Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover

Have you ever met someone and instantly thought, “That kid is going places”?

That’s exactly how you feel when you meet Oren Santillo, a senior at Melrose High School who’s already making waves in the local music scene.

I've had the joy of seeing Oren perform across the city — each time more impressive than the last. Music is in his blood. Raised by parents who share a deep love for music, Oren began playing piano at just 5 years old. Since then, he’s added guitar and bass to his repertoire, with jazz as his favorite genre.

Oren first began performing during the pandemic by livestreaming on Facebook. That early spark soon evolved into a full-fledged musical project: The Peanut Gallery, a jazz duo he formed about two years ago with Johna Peters. (Fun fact: the name was inspired by Oren’s younger brother!) The duo often welcomes guest musicians and continues to grow in popularity.

He’s graced the stage at Follow Your Art, Melrose Porchfest, Melrose Scholarship Night, the Urban Garden Tour, the Beebe Estate, the Arts Festival, and local nursing homes — not to mention clubs in Boston and Cambridge.

But Oren isn’t just a performer — he’s also a visionary. He dreamed up and launched the Melrose Jazz Festival and the monthly Teen Coffeehouses at Follow Your Art. From managing logistics to recruiting musicians, he’s been the driving force behind these events. He’s quick to credit Kris at FYA for supporting his vision, proving that Oren not only has talent—but also humility and heart.

He loves Melrose for its welcoming music scene, but he’s also mindful about keeping a healthy balance between music and academics.

You can follow Oren's musical journey on Instagram.

Keep your eye on this rising star — he’s just getting started.