Ella Castro

Intern Assistant Conductor, Soprano

Ella Victoria Aubrey T. Castro is an incoming doctorate student at the University of North Texas, and will be taking up Orchestral Conducting under Prof. David Itkin. She graduated Masters of Music in Music Education at Northwestern State University and took her Bachelor of Music in Music Education at the University of the Philippines - Diliman. She was a member of numerous choirs, including the Northwestern State University Chamber Choir, Villancico Vocal Ensemble, the resident choir of the International Bamboo Organ Festival, and University of the Philippines Concert Chorus, who won Grand Prix in the 6th Krakow International Choral Competition held in 2015 at Krakow, Poland. She is also part of different choral camps like Sing Philippines Youth Choir, Asia Pacific Youth Choir, and Philippine Choral Directors' Association. She is also selected to be a part of World Youth Choir 2020.

She placed for four semesters in the Lower Advanced Classical Treble category of National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional and State competitions, placing first in the category for the State of Louisiana last March. She also starred on her premiere opera role as Mother in the Amahl and the Night Visitors performed by the NSU Opera Ensemble, and performed on her premiere musical role as Mayzie LaBird in Seussical the Musical with the NSU Theatre and Dance. She performed J. S. Bach’s Cantata no. 51 with the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra last September 27, 2022, for winning first place in the NNSO’s Concerto / Aria Competition held last January. Other roles include the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, and Josepha Vogelhuber in the operetta Im Weissen Rössl.

She had conducted both choirs and orchestra: she led the Northwestern State University Men’s Chorus as the interim director for almost two years. Back in the Philippines, she was the conductor of University of the Philippines - Association of Computer Science Majors CURSOR Choir, that won as champions in the yearly Awitan Choral Competition held in 2020. She also conducted Pansol Choir in the Sixth Macau International Festival held in 2019. She was the musical director of Teatro Kalsayeño, Caloocan City Science High School's theatre group for almost seven years (2014-2020) and has made different musicals with them. She made her debut in the orchestra performing with the Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and NSU Men’s Chorus during their 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Pops Concert, and had assisted and conducted the orchestra for two semesters. She also had a private voice studio in NSU School of Creative

and Performing Arts, and had taught students ranging from teenagers to college students. Currently, she is preparing to be one of the cover conductors of UNT Symphony Orchestra for the upcoming semester.

SPOTLIGHT 2023:

Assistant Conductor: Suor Angelica, Woman, Madama Butterfly

Collaborative Pianist: Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears

Conversa 2, Suor Angelica

Gherardino, Gianni Schicchi

Kate Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly