Eugene F. Castillo

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Eugene Frederick Castillo is a Filipino-American conductor, currently 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 most-well-known for his work with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, which he has led since 2004. 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 electic mix of symphonic music, and his advocacy of contemporary and living composers.^[1]

Castillo has been honored four times by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers for his commitment to the works of contemporary composers.^[2] The Filipino-American Historical Society has recognized him as the only Filipino-American to conduct a major metropolitan symphony.^[3] 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 U.S. National Symphony at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C..

[edit] References

1. ^ Tariman, Pablo (13 August 2004). Philippine Harmonic wows the Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved on 22 October 2006.
2. ^ ASCAP Names Year 2004 Ochestra Awards for Adventurous Programming. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (15 June 2004). Retrieved on 22 October 2006.
3. ^ Diaz, Perry (11 February 2004). Bridging the Generation Gap. Philippine News Online. Retrieved on 22 October 2006.