Biography
Francisco J. Castillo
Oboist, Composer, Conductor, Orchestrator, & Educator
Francisco Castillo earned his MM in oboe performance from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor and “Licenciatura” from the University of Costa Rica. He is currently principal Oboist with the Redlands Symphony and the California Philharmonic Orchestra, and performs with many different orchestras and chamber music organizations throughout Southern California.
Francisco is also an accomplished recording musician with decades of studio experience recording for film/TV & video games. He was selected as the featured soloist for the official recording of Charles Fernandez's Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, England, under the direction of the composer. Francisco has also released a solo oboe album, The Bolero Project & Más, which brought together multiple composers and arrangers to offer a unique and definitive interpretation of Latin romanticism.
In addition to his playing and recording work, Mr. Castillo is also the oboe and Chamber Music instructor at the University of Redlands, Pomona College, Pasadena City College, the Idyllwild Arts Academy, and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. He has long been recognized as an outstanding oboe teacher and chamber music clinician. Many of his students have won positions in some of the most important orchestras in the United States and also have won major solo and chamber music competitions.
Francisco has been heavily involved in professional activities outside of teaching and playing, co-hosting and organizing the International Double Reed Conference (IDRS) at the University of Redlands in 2013. Over 1,200 double reed performers, composers, professors, soloists, conductors, instrumental manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world attended the conference to participate in over 200 events.
As a composer, Francisco's works have been performed around the world. His works extend from solo instrumental compositions and chamber music works to a full symphony orchestra. Some of his compositional honors include:
In 1979 he received the Costa Rican National Prize, “Aquilio J. Echeverría” for his Orchestra work, “Tupac Amaru.”
In the 1980’s the Pasadena Arts Council commissioned Francisco to write the composition, “Concerto for Pasadena,” that was later premiered by the Pasadena Pops under the direction of Maestro Victor Vener.
In 1984, Francisco was commissioned to composed a new work for the Pasadena Pops Orchestra, “Olympic Overture." That new work was premiered during the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in a concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Many of his chamber music compositions are performed by different artists through the wold and they have also been performed at the International Double Reed Society Conferences.
One of Francisco's proudest moments was premiering his own Rhapsody for Oboe, English Horn and Orchestra with the Redlands Symphony under the direction of Maestro Jon Robertson with New York Philharmonic principal oboist Liang Wang on the Oboe and Francisco on the English Horn. The Rhapsody received rave reviews after the premiere. Of that concert, the Press-Enterprise wrote: “Redlands Symphony Orchestra's audience stood in enthusiastic appreciation of the world premiere of Francisco Castillo's 'Rhapsody for Oboe, English Horn, and Orchestra' at the concert last weekend. The 15-minute piece surely needs to be ensconced in the orchestra's repertoire, although I suspect it may be technically challenging for most oboists, written, as it was, for New York Philharmonic's Principal Oboe Liang Wang, Castillo's former student. …My favorite flavor was the Oboe, English Horn duet - Wang on oboe, Castillo on English Horn. Poignant, achy, lovingly played, the oboe line tugged at the depths of our souls, and, joined by the English Horn with Marimba tripping lightly in the background, arrived at immense satisfaction.”
The Redlands Daily Fact wrote: “...And fun it was - lively music and with lots of percussion. In his preconcert remarks, Robertson half jokingly said people should feel free to get up and dance during the “Rhapsody.” The music practically danced off the stage, so it might not have been surprising to see people dancing in the aisles. And there were enough lyrical passages for oboe and English Horn mixed in to keep the dance from being exhausting, though I heard someone say afterward that "the orchestra got a workout.” So did Wang and Castillo, but it looked and sounded as if they had fun with the music…”
Francisco lives in Arcadia, California, and enjoys watching soccer and tennis matches.