Vítor Castro

Vítor Castro is one of the most versatile portuguese percussionists of his generation. He began his musical studies at the Guimarães Conservatory, continuing his training at ESMAE in Porto, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Music, Percussion.

He then moved to the Netherlands, where he earned a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance, specializing in New Music, at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, graduating with the highest possible mark for his final recital.

He studied under Rachel Zhang, Arnold Marinissen, Bence Major, Nancy Zeltsman, and Peter Prommel. In support of his studies abroad, he was awarded the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Artistic Grant.

Throughout his career, Vítor Castro has been recognized in numerous national and international competitions, including 2nd Prize at the Estoril Performance Competition, 2nd Prize and Special Prize at the Marimba Festiva International Competition, and 2nd Prize at the “Tum-pa-tum-pa” Iberian Percussion Competition, among others. He has also been selected to take part in prestigious contemporary music academies and festivals, including the Lucerne Festival Academy, the Grafenegg Academy, and the Freiburg Ensemble Akademie.

He collaborates with ensembles such as the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, Drumming GP, Orquestra XXI, Sinfonietta de Braga, and the Gulbenkian Orchestra. He currently performs with the Guimarães Orchestra and serves as Artistic Director and percussionist of the GUICollective ensemble.