luis Bernardo castro
Luis Bernardo Castro is a Venezuelan cellist whose career began at 4 through Venezuela’s El Sistema. He went on to graduate with honors from the Simón Bolívar Conservatory and the National Experimental University of the Arts (Cum Laude), later earning a Master’s degree from Louisiana State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Cello Performance with a minor in Arts Administration under Professor Dennis Parker. Luis’s artistry has been shaped by distinguished mentors including Francy Vázquez, Marek Gajzler, César Noguera, William Molina, Germán Marcano, Ulises Ascanio, and Dennis Parker. He has also appeared in masterclasses with Wolfgang Boettcher from Berlin Philharmonic. A prizewinner of the 2019 Samnium International Competition in Italy, Luis was named a Britten Pears Artist in 2020 and won the 2023 LSU Concerto Competition, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto. His festival appearances include the Sull’Acqua Festival (Italy), Collaborative Piano Institute, Woman Composer Festival, the Mostly Modern Festival & Lake George Music Festival (USA). As a chamber and orchestral musician, he has performed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, collaborating with conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel and Sir Simon Rattle. In 2024, he performed with Yo-Yo Ma and Kayhan Kalhor as a member of the Orchestra of the Americas.