Eugene F. Castillo
Encyclopedia
Eugene Frederick Castillo is a Filipino American
conductor, most recently serving as the director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. An active spokesman for the arts, he has been recognized with numerous civic awards and recognitions.
As a conductor, Castillo is best known for his work with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, which he led from 2004 to 2008. His contemporaries cite his efforts to combat brain drain
in the Philippines by making the orchestra an item of national pride and raising its global profile. Critics enjoy his eclectic mix of symphonic music, and his advocacy of contemporary and living composers.
Castillo has been honored four times by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for his commitment to the works of contemporary composers. The Filipino-American Historical Society has recognized him as the only Filipino-American to conduct a major metropolitan symphony. In the past, he has conducted metropolitan symphonies in Long Beach, California
and Pasadena, California
, and Sacramento, California
. Also, he has served as a cover conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra(U.S.) at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C..
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
conductor, most recently serving as the director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. An active spokesman for the arts, he has been recognized with numerous civic awards and recognitions.
As a conductor, Castillo is best known for his work with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, which he led from 2004 to 2008. His contemporaries cite his efforts to combat brain drain
Brain drain
Human capital flight, more commonly referred to as "brain drain", is the large-scale emigration of a large group of individuals with technical skills or knowledge. The reasons usually include two aspects which respectively come from countries and individuals...
in the Philippines by making the orchestra an item of national pride and raising its global profile. Critics enjoy his eclectic mix of symphonic music, and his advocacy of contemporary and living composers.
Castillo has been honored four times by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for his commitment to the works of contemporary composers. The Filipino-American Historical Society has recognized him as the only Filipino-American to conduct a major metropolitan symphony. In the past, he has conducted metropolitan symphonies in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
and Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. Also, he has served as a cover conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra(U.S.) at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C..