Chris Castro must have an incredible talent to be compared to Varèse, a groundbreaking composer known for his innovative and avant-garde approach to music. Being awarded Chamber Music America’s 2021 Classical Commissioning Award is a significant recognition of his skill and creativity as a composer. The nickname "The New Colossus of Sound" suggests that his work carries a weight and power akin to the monumental impact of Varèse's compositions. It would be fascinating to explore Castro's music and see how he continues to push boundaries and forge his own path in the world of classical music.
His new work, Canções dos Desassossego (Songs of Disquiet), will be written for the Lyris Quartet and soprano Sharon Harms and premiered in 2023. His music has been performed by Sharon Harms and the Composers Conference Ensemble under James Baker (Two Songs from Brooklyn Narcissus), the St. Louis Symphony under David Robertson (Choruses III), pianists Sarah Cahill and Eric Zivian (IV - I), piano duo HereNowHear (Beethausenstro - Castockhoven) and the Lydian String Quartet (Choruses IV). He is the 2022 Guest Composer for the James Tenney Memorial Symposium, composing and collaborating with the New Mexico Contemporary Ensemble. Starting in August 2022 he will join the faculty of Chapman University as Assistant Professor of Composition. He has a Ph.D. in Composition and Theory from UC Davis and a Bachelor's in Music from the Juilliard School in both double bass and composition.
Contact Chris for more info.
