Valdemar Castillo, Assistant Principal Cornet

Valdemar E. Castillo is a classically trained trumpeter and performing musician, currently serving as a professional music educator in New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Performance from New Jersey City University (2012–2018) studying classical trumpet with Jerry Bryant, and continued graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory (2018–2019) and Arizona State University (2019–2020) under Joesef Burgstaller. Castillo’s performance experience includes work with ensembles such as the Princeton Brass Band, where he is currently in his fourth year with the band and earned First Section Champions at the 2023 NABBA Championships, and the Eastern Wind Symphony, which received Outstanding Performance recognition at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. In 2020, he was named Runner-Up at the United States Naval Academy Band Audition. His approach to performance is grounded in disciplined preparation, attentive listening, and a strong commitment to ensemble collaboration.