Among Brazil's major composers of the 20th century, Claudio Santoro attained an international reputation. In addition to composing, he was an important force in Brazilian musical life as a conductor, educator, and organization executive. In 1948, he won the Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund Prize at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. Santoro co-founded the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and performed with the group. He went on to establish numerous performing organizations and musical institutions in Brazil, many of which still exist today. Primary among Santoro's compositions were his 14 symphonies, which spanned the years from 1940 until the end of his life and displayed various styles. Some 50 of his works have been recorded, and in the early 2020s, the Naxos label embarked on a complete cycle of his symphonies.