Toussaint Santicola Jones, a senior at Princeton University, has made a name for himself as a composer with an unusual path marked by his love for fantasy and medieval history. From his early years in Albany, N.Y., he stood out as “the extremely weird kid” with few friends, according to his own account. However, at Princeton, these quirks became assets that fueled his journey as a prolific composer.
Santicola Jones’ academic focus on music and medieval studies enabled him to channel his interests into various compositions ranging from orchestral pieces to chamber works. His influences are eclectic, drawing from prog rock bands like Rush and Genesis to classical composers such as Stravinsky and György Ligeti.
His work has attracted attention beyond the university. He has been commissioned by organizations like the Albany Symphony and the Little Orchestra Society of New York. Notably, his senior thesis—a concerto for tuba and orchestra titled “That Which I Cannot See”—was performed by Princeton Sinfonia in Richardson Auditorium on May 2.
Daniel Trueman, a professor of music at Princeton who advised Santicola Jones on his junior paper, praised him: “Toussaint is one of the most talented composition undergraduate students we have had in recent decades.”
A course in medieval history during Santicola Jones’ first semester deepened his interest in the subject and influenced many of his compositions. One piece was inspired by “The Song of Roland,” a poem he encountered both during high school and in William Chester Jordan’s class at Princeton.
Another significant inspiration came from Leonora Carrington’s painting “Red Horses of the Sidhe,” part of the Princeton University Art Museum’s collection. This led him to compose pieces like “Naked, Upon the Road to Tara” and “The Broken Tree.”
His thesis advisor Steve Mackey commented on Santicola Jones’ ambition: “He thinks big and his music has big gestures, vivid characters and strong contrasts.” Mackey encouraged him to trust his instincts when composing.
Over four years at Princeton, Santicola Jones composed numerous works for full orchestra, chamber orchestra, and smaller ensembles—all performed publicly either on campus or by external groups. His process often began with improvisations at any available piano before refining arrangements amidst the ambient noise of Rojo’s coffee shop.
Santicola Jones credits mentors like Mackey and Christopher Theofanidis for shaping his skills. In 2022, Theofanidis remarked on Santicola Jones’ talent during an orchestration workshop: “You have a superpower for a beautiful tune.”
Reflecting on the time spent working with orchestras during his undergraduate years, Santicola Jones expressed gratitude towards Ruth Ochs, conductor of Princeton Sinfonia: “The amount of time I’ve gotten to work with an orchestra at Princeton… does not happen elsewhere as an undergrad.”
On a research trip funded by Princeton last summer to places tied to his compositions—such as Viking sites—he experienced moments that sparked further creative ideas.
His tuba concerto also served as a platform for showcasing fellow student Wesley Sanders’ musical abilities. Santicola Jones described Sanders’ skill with enthusiasm: “Wesley loves enormous sounds like I do.”
As he prepared for what would be his final composition performance at Princeton with “That Which I Cannot See,” Santicola Jones reflected on how each piece emerged through collaboration with musicians he admired.
