Dr. Carlos Castilla (School Director-Guitar Instructor)

With a career spanning more than three decades, Dr. Carlos Castilla has established himself as a versatile classical and commercial music guitarist, chamber musician, and educator. His performance career and pedagogical approach are built on a rigorous academic foundation. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia, before moving to the U.S. to complete both a Master’s and a Doctorate in Guitar Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Southern Mississippi.

As an educator, Dr. Castilla has taught across a wide range of higher education institutions. His past faculty appointments include positions at Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State University, North Carolina State University, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Coastal Carolina Community College. Before relocating to the U.S., he served as a guitar professor at the Universidad del Atlántico in his hometown of Barranquilla, where he also founded the Philharmonic Society of Barranquilla to support regional arts and culture.

Currently based in North Carolina, Dr. Castilla focuses on music education and community arts leadership. He is the owner and director of the Fayetteville School of Music and serves as the President of Camellia Camerata, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and performing chamber music throughout the region. In recognition of his administrative and artistic leadership, Musical America Worldwide named him one of the Top 30 Music Professionals in the United States in 2023.

An active recording artist, Carlos is particularly known for his collaboration with pianist Amanda Virelles in Duo Guitiano. The ensemble is dedicated to researching, reviving, and performing rare repertoire written for the guitar-piano duo. Whether performing, directing, or mentoring the next generation of musicians, Dr. Castilla remains deeply committed to advancing classical and chamber music.

His solo and duo recordings are available on all major streaming platforms.