Manuel Santapau discovered his musical vocation within his own family, when his sister first introduced him to the secrets of the cello. That intimate and early teaching not only sparked his passion for music but also defined a lifelong path devoted to the art.

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Fate led him to a decisive encounter: Marçal Cervera. Under the guidance of this master, Santapau refined his technique, expanded his artistic vision, and delved deep into the expressive language of the cello. This mentorship marked a turning point in his development as a performer.

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Awarded in numerous national and international competitions for cello and chamber music — in cities such as Manresa, Almería, Barcelona, Cartagena, and Alicante — his career has been driven by a constant curiosity and a thirst for exploring new sonic territories.

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With an open spirit toward contemporary music, he has collaborated with ensembles such as the Grup Instrumental de València and Ensemble d’Arts, and was a founding member of Ensemble Espai Sonor. With these groups, he has brought new music to international stages including Música Nova (São Paulo), Festival SMASH (Salamanca), ENSEMS (València), Festival Opus (Bordeaux), Mostra Sonora (València), Ciclo Espirales (Paris), and Ciclo Klang (Helsinki).

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His journey has been deeply shaped by his close work with some of the most relevant composers on the contemporary scene, including José Manuel López López, Voro García, Luís de Pablo, Héctor Parra, Alberto Posadas, Aureliano Cattaneo, Elena Mendoza, and Georg Friedrich Haas. The artistic rapport with many of them has led to the creation of solo cello works dedicated to him, enriching a repertoire that challenges the boundaries of both technique and expression.

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Deeply committed to education and the dissemination of cello performance, he has taught at the Conservatory of Castellón and at the Escuela Superior de Música de Alto Rendimiento (ESMAR). He is also the Artistic Director of CellosMagics, a festival that celebrates and promotes the cello in both pedagogical and artistic dimensions.

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Manuel Santapau is principal cellist of the Castellón Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Cello at the “Óscar Esplà” Superior Conservatory of Music in Alicante, where he continues to share his passion with new generations.

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Alongside his artistic and teaching work, he has also made significant academic contributions. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the Universitat de les Illes Balears, combining his love for music with a profound understanding of the human brain—an approach that enriches his vision of art as a bridge between emotion and knowledge.