Jesús Castro-Balbi
An internationally-renown concert cellist and pedagogue, Jesús Castro-Balbi has performed extensively across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and recorded 13 albums. He is regularly featured in major venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Mexico City’s Sala Nezahualcóyotl, Seoul Arts Center, Shanghai’s Oriental Arts Center, and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. He has appeared as a soloist with the Aarhus (Denmark), Dallas, and Fort Worth symphony orchestras; China, and Mexico City philharmonic orchestras; the Leipzig (Germany) and Norwegian radio orchestras; and the National Symphony Orchestra (Peru). A passionate champion of new music, he presented the first recording of 19 works, 57 premiere performances, and is the dedicatee of 21 compositions.
After teaching at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division, he served as a faculty member at Texas Christian University over 18 years. There, he developed an internationally sought-after cello program, founded the TCU Cellofest and the Faculty & Friends Chamber Music Series, and led the faculty senate, collaboratively raising the music program and the university’s academic profile and impact. His students are now productive artist-citizens in the U.S. and abroad. He has given masterclasses at Beijing Central Conservatory, Paris Conservatoire, the Yale School of Music, the Orchestra of the Americas, and has adjudicated at national and international competitions.
A graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur at Lyon (France), Indiana University Bloomington, and the Yale School of Music, he holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School. He is currently a professor of music at Kennesaw State University.