Bio
Influenced by Latin American music, jazz, electronic and film music.Award-winning composer, conductor, and trumpet player, Giancarlo Castro D’Addona is recognized as one of the most outstanding artists to have emerged from Venezuela’s acclaimed El Sistema music education program developing an exceptional career.
As a trumpetist, he belonged to the most representative groups of “El Sistema” making numerous tours visiting more than 30 countries between America, Europe, and Asia, obtaining several awards, sponsorships and handling of international arts agencies such as ASKONAS HOLT, KAJIMOTO, SONY MUSIC FOUNDATION and recordings under labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics and EUROARTS.
Influenced by Latin American Music, Jazz, Electronic and Film Music and under the tutelage of the Colombian Maestro Blas Emilio Atehortua, Castro conceived his first compositions as the Brass Quintet No. 1, Trumpet Quartet No. 1, Trombone Quartet No. 1, premiered in Argentina in 2005 and the Swing Sonata, premiered in Spain as part of the Festival Spanish Brass Alzira in 2006 by the International Trumpet Soloist Francisco “Pacho” Flores.
His most renowned composition, “Grand Fanfare”, was completed in 2004 and has been recorded in musical productions like “We Got Rhythm” under the label EMI CLASSICS, “Grand Fanfare” and “Mambo! Live From Caracas”, both under EUROARTS label. In 2012 the work was recorded by the Simon Bolivar Symphonic Band of Venezuela under GENUIN label (Germany) and the same year along with his works “Llegada de un Noble Maestro” and “Walking Faster” were performed by the Venezuelan Brass Ensemble in the Bergen International Festival in Norway and the Carnegie Hall in New York where were lavishly praised by the international review. “Grand Fanfare” has been also performed at the BBC Proms Festival at the Royal Albert Hall (London), the Walt Disney Hall (Los Angeles), and the Berlin Konzerthaus (Germany) among many other venues. This piece was also performed by The President’s Own United States Marine Band in the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
His work “Rhapsody for Talents” was commissioned by the French Consortium Buffet Crampon in commemoration of the manufacturer’s history in the construction, production and sale of wind instruments worldwide. The world premiere was performed by the Simon Bolivar Symphony Band of Venezuela in the Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris, France). The Paris Symphony Orchestra performed this work at the Radio France Theater in the celebration of the 190th anniversary of the consortium with Giancarlo as guest conductor of the orchestra becoming the first Venezuelan composer to conduct his own work in this theater of international relevance. This piece has also been performed by the Banda Municipal de Valencia in the Palau de la Música de Valencia in Spain at the closing ceremony of the International Music Band Contest “Ciutat de València” 2018. “Rhapsody for Talents” is the recipient of a Gold Medal in the category Original Score and Composer at the Global Music Awards in San Diego, California.
Giancarlo has enriched the soloist repertoire, mentioning works such as the Concert for Clarinet and Big Band, composed and dedicated to the Latin American Clarinet Festival 2006, this work has been performed in the Abbey of Stift Melk in Austria as part of the Salzburg Festival, the Teatro Do Engenho by Orchestra Jovem Do Estado in Sao Paulo (Brazil), and in the Kursaal Oostende by the Royal Band of the Belgian Navy in Gent (Belgium). The “Concierto Sureño” for Violin and String Orchestra, commissioned by Laurentius Dinca (Former Principal Violin of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) being its world premiere in Finland in 2010, this piece has also been performed by the Valentiana Orchestra (France) being its soloist Marie-Francoise Pallot (Violin and Chamber Music Teacher at the Boulogne-Billancourt Conservatory in Paris) with Giancarlo as the guest conductor of the Orchestra. The “Concierto Sureño” was premiered in the United States by the Venezuelan Violinist Inés Voglar Belgique and the Portland Youth Philharmonic conducted by David Hattner in Hillsboro, Oregon. Other relevant compositions for soloists are “Euphantasy” for Euphonium and Wind Band, premiered and recorded by Bastien Baumet (International Soloist and Principal Euphonium of Paris Brass Band) and the Portugal Air force Band in the production “Radiance”. The Sonatina for Tuba, premiered by Carol Jantsch (Principal Tuba of the Philadelphia Orchestra) at the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference 2019 in Iowa. His Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra was performed by Buffet Crampon Artist Michel Supera and the Valentiana Orchestra in Valenciennes (France).
Currently, Giancarlo’s works continue being performed around the world by groups such as l’Orchestre Symphonique d’Orléans in France, the Peter Mayr Pfeffersberg Band in Austria, the Faculty of Brass and Percussion Ensemble of Interlochen Camp in Michigan, Le Grand Ensemble de Cuivres et Percussions du Conservatoire in France, the Royal Academy of Music Symphonic Brass in London, Giovanile Sinfonica Band Trentino in Italy, Boston Conservatory Brass Ensemble among many other groups. Giancarlo’s Grand Fanfare, Rhapsody for Talents, and Tuba Concerto have been selected as mandatory works in several international contests in Europe.
Castro’s artistry not only reaches the orchestral field, but the quality of his work has been highlighted in many facets of the music. An example is the creation of the soundtrack of “Maleficio” Series, the first Venezuelan web streaming series where the promotional theme includes Latin Caribbean music. He also was the composer, music producer and mixing supervisor of the Venezuelan film “Redención” and the short film “I, When the Heaven is on Earth”.
As a conductor, Castro has participated with many orchestras and chamber music groups such as Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Paris Symphonic Orchestra (France), Valentiana Orchestra (France), the Twin Ports Wind Orchestra (Minnesota), the Walking Jazz Band of Manizales (Colombia), Lara Symphony Orchestra, Simon Bolivar Conservatory Big Band Jazz Orchestra, Barquisimeto Youth Symphony Orchestra, Chacao Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others, performing the extensive Symphonic, Jazz and Latin American repertoire in many different countries.
Giancarlo’s expertise and versatility have been highly valued by leading Portland-Area music organizations such as the Reed College Orchestra, who have appointed him as their conductor, Portland Youth Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, who have appointed him as the conductor of the Wind Ensemble and the Concert Orchestra respectively. He also is the conductor of Encore Brass Ensemble and BRAVO Community Orchestra. Recently, Castro has served as a cover conductor at the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in several opportunities and as interim conductor of the Portland State University’s Orchestra during the 2022-2023 academic year.
Giancarlo´s music is edited and published by Editions BIM in Switzerland and also is distributed around the world in sheet format by La Flute de Pan, J.W Pepper, HeBu, Just for Brass, Presto Sheet Music, Sheet Music Plus, Partition Musicales, Midwest Sheet Music, Blas Musik Shop among others.
Currently, he continues creating new compositions being his most recent works, “Festival Quintet”, commissioned by the New World Symphony Orchestra (Florida) being performed by their Brass Quintet. “Diversity”, performed by the Brass Section of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra in the Annual Martin Luther King Tribute Concert 2021 under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin. “Portland Beauty”, commissioned by Portland State University and recorded by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in its Young People’s Concerts 2022. “The Mix of the Culturas”, commissioned by Enriching Lives Through Music (San Rafael, California) as a part of the project “Reflections on Resilience” funded by the Carnegie Hall. “YOLA Fiesta Fanfare”, commissioned by the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, premiered in the Walt Disney Concert Hall at the 2022 League of American Orchestras National Conference. “Encuentro Obertura Festiva”, commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, performed at the Hollywood Bowl 100 Year Celebration Concert Series under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. “Rush”, commissioned by Carol Jantsch, principal Tuba of Philadelphia Orchestra, premiered at the Interlochen Camp. “Latidos Vinotinto”, commissioned by the National Soccer Federation of Venezuela, premiered by the Simon Bolivar Orchestra and the National Choir of Venezuela. “Journey”, commissioned by Portland Youth Philharmonic celebrating 100 years premiered on May 5th of 2024, and “De Mi Tierra”, commissioned by the Oregon Symphony Orchestra premiered on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of 2024, and broadcasted by All Classical Radio, Portland OR.