Manuel Castillo
Festival Artist / Tenor / Professor of Voice
Manuel Mario Castillo Sapién is from Guadalajara, México, he has been seen performing solo in concerts and operas throughout America, Europe and Asia from Ireland, Denmark, China, USA, Mexico, etc.
Manuel has performed as “Rodolfo” in La Bohème, “Roméo” in Roméo et Juliette, “Alfred” in Die Fledermaus and a special mention of Aida’s “il Messagero” during the fond farewell of the famous conductor Maestro Anton Coppola at Opera Tampa. Among the teachers and mentors he credits for his career he likes to recognize the impact that Dr. Everett McCorvey, Cynthia Lawrence, Dr. Harlan Snow and Dr. Ricky Little had in his life. Moreover, Manuel was invited by the legendary American baritone Sherrill Milnes to sing in his VOICExperience Program in New York City and Savannah, GA, he has also sung in masterclasses for Diana Soviero, Grace Bumbry, Donnie Ray Albert, George Shirley and Clifton Ware.
Manuel is a passionate artist, entrepreneur and teacher with special interest of helping the young musicians for whom he has created festivals including masterclasses of instrumental conducting and voice. Since his arrival at the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Dr. Castillo has produced opera and artsong workshops bringing over international artists from USA, Canada, France.The summer 2019 he produced the show “Noches de Broadway” bringing together the community performers along with students from the Facultad de Artes. During the difficult spring semester 2021, Dr. Castillo worked in collaboration with Mtro. Gustavo Ahualli from the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art of The Catholic University of America in D.C. and exchange program for students of both schools.
The Spring 2022 Dr. Castillo invited Dr. Mitchell Hutchings from Florida Atlantic University and Dr. Michael Hix from The University of New Mexico to hold a series of masterclasses with voice students from the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua. In May 2022 Dr. Castillo created the First Vocal Competition for students who want to pursue a career in voice.
Dr. Castillo started his music education in his hometown and from 2004-2014 he moved to the USA to further his career getting his BM in Vocal Performance from Morehead State University, and received his MM and DMA in Vocal Performance from the University of Kentucky. Since 2017 he moved to the city of Chihuahua where he is active member of the Voice Department at the Facultad de Artes of the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua teaches and oversees the Master Program in Voice, maintains an active voice studio and is the conductor of the Academic Choir.