Antonio Castillo de la Gala

Born in Veracruz, Mexico, Antonio Castillo de la Gala is a distinguished pianist whose musical journey began at an astonishingly young age. He holds the equivalent of a PhD from the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he studied under Joaquin Amparan. Antonio refined his artistry through master classes with renowned musicians such as Bernard Flavigny, Jörg Demus, Angelica Morales von Sauer (the wife of Emil Sauer, Franz Liszt's last pupil), and Andrzej Wasowsky, hailed by Time Magazine in 1946 as “the greatest Chopin interpreter of modern times.”

 

Antonio’s prodigious talent was evident early on; he started piano studies at age 3, debuted on a radio station at age 5, and held his first solo recital at age 6. His dedication and skill have earned him sixteen diplomas and awards in music, including First Prize in the Frederic Chopin National Competition in Mexico. Throughout his prolific career, he has served as a Professor of Music at the National Conservatory of Music, a pianist with the Ballet Company, and a Professor of Piano at the National School of Music in Mexico.

 

A versatile and multi-faceted artist, Antonio is not only a performer but also a composer, arranger, and Musical Director. He has toured extensively across Mexico and the United States, both as a concert pianist and as a soloist with symphony orchestras. Antonio’s extraordinary communication skills, wit, flair, and encyclopedic knowledge of music have made him a popular figure on radio and television in both Mexico and the United States, where he has also showcased his unique one-man piano and comedy show.

 

In addition to his extensive classical repertoire, which includes concertos by Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Gershwin, Antonio performs over 2,000 selections from the popular repertoire from memory. His discography includes seven CD recordings, with his most recent solo piano album, “From My Heart and Soul,” featuring beautiful classical pieces from famous movies.

 

Antonio is a true cultural treasure of Los Angeles. He has frequently appeared as a classical solo pianist and was the resident pianist at the elegant Hotel Bel-Air from 1997 to 2009. Since then, he has been the resident pianist at the luxurious Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, and he currently performs at The Hotel Bel-Air on Wednesday evenings. Antonio speaks fluent English, French, and Spanish, adding to his international appeal.

 

His performances have garnered critical acclaim: "Brilliant technique performing Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy" (The Tucson Citizen), "A wonderful and memorable recital" (The Excelsior, Mexico City), and "Great musicality in the Chopin Concerto #2" (The Arizona Daily Star).