Anthony Castro

Professional

Composer/Lyricist:	Both
Genre:	Songwriter
Email:	tonycastro@ntlworld.com

Biography

Anthony Castro has been working in professional theatre since 1982. As a freelance musical theatre conductor, musical director, composer, repetiteur and vocal coach, he has worked with companies including the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. and the Really Useful Group.

He was Principal Conductor and Musical Director for the London productions of both Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. He worked with Pete Townsend on the world premiere of The Iron Man and was Musical Consultant to the new US musical, Dracul.

His interest in developing new musical theatre writing led to his being a judge for the "Quest for a new Musical", being invited to join the Board of Directors and Artistic Directorate of the National Youth Music Theatre, and being a Reader for the Vivian Ellis Prize. He is a committee member of the Mercury Workshop (lyrics) and a reader for the Ken Hill Award.

Anthony was the Head of Performance at the Central School of Speech and Drama for four years, during which time he secured one of the highest ratings for any vocational actor-training department in the Higher Education sector in the 1998 HEFCE Teaching Quality Assessment exercise. More recently he has become the Head of Music at Rose Bruford College, with a brief to develop and expand this relatively new department.

Important Works		Performances
I just want you to know (1998) musical theatre duet Commissioned by producer of DRACUL 1998 Released on show CD - DRACUL [DAT Records] 1998 Shortlisted for soundtrack of new film "October" 1999 Selected as "Song of the Day" by www.mp3.com 1999 Sinta! (1995) new musical Workshop/premiered at Theatre Museum London 1996 Two songs showcased at Talk of the Town, London 1998 Night Before a Journey (1994) chamber songs to texts by Charles Causley First performed at Rangers House, Blackheath 1996 Lonely Hearts (1992) short horror film score Commissioned by Lonely Hearts Productions Widely screened on fringe throughout UK 1992-94 First Things First (1991) dance piece for chamber ensemble Commissioned by Middlesex University Dance Department First performance at Middlesex University 1991 Francesco de la Vega (1990) for Narrator and Orchestra Commissioned by York University Orchestra First performance at Harrogate Festival 1990 Early in the Morning (1989) book of new nursery rhymes, to texts by Charles Causley Commissioned and published by Viking Kestrel Winner of the 1989 Signal Book Award		None added