Agustín Castilla-Ávila was born in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, where he began his musical studies at its conservatoire. Later he entered Conservatorio Superior de Sevilla obtaining the Titulo Superior de Guitarra with Professor J. Calero. In 1998 he was the first guitarist to gain a scholarship by Fundacion La Caixa-British Council to study a Masters Degree at the London College of Music with guitarist Carlos Bonell. Later he moved to the Guildhall School of Music where he earned a Postgraduate Diploma and a Masters with guitarists Robert Brightmore, David Miller and the composer Mathew King. He won the Portallion Solo Guitar Prize at this school. He continued his studies at Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg with professor Isabel Siewers. While at Mozarteum, he also took studies at Arizona State University doing a Doctorate in Musical Arts under the direction of guitarist Frank Koonce. He was also an assistant teacher at this university. In 2004 he began his composition studies with Adriana Hölszky at Mozarteum finishing his Masters degree at this school with Reinhard Febel. He also studied composition with Alexander Müllenbach at Luxemburg Consevatoire. In 2013 he becomes the Music Preis (Jahresstipendium) from the Region of Salzburg.

He has received guitar master classes from D. Russell, M. Barrueco, A. Diaz, R. Aussel, J.L. Rodrigo, J. Clerch, J. Cardoso, Roland Dyens, etc. As a composer, he attended masterclasses and workshops from S. Sciarrino, K. Schwertsik, D. Schnebel, C. Halffter, T. Marco, A. Posadas, J. Kaipainen and J. Tiensuu among others. He was the youngest guitar professor at Conservatorio Profesional de Ceuta during 94-95 and during 95-98 he was teaching at Conservatorio Elemental de Lucena, both in Spain.For two years, he directed the contemporary music radio program “Die Nymphe” at the Radiofabrik in Salzburg. In 2007, he composed the music for the 300 anniversary of the Kollegienkirche in Salzburg.

Since 2009 he is an artistic advisor of the Microtonal Music Society in Austria, giving seminars about his microtonal guitar at Escuela Reina Sofia in Madrid, St. Petersburg Conservatoire in Russia, Guildhall School of Music in London, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, etc.

He has played solo concerts, in chamber music groups or with orchestra in Spain, France, UK, Italy, Swizerland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Finland and USA. As a composer, he participated at the IV and V Bolivar Hall Guitar Festival London, Guildhall Contemporary Music Festival, Salzburg Strings Festival, Mozart Ante Portas Salzburg, West-Östlicher Einklang Symposium 2007, Stadtfestwoche Hallein 2007, stART 2007, Rocník Medzinárodného Festivalu Banska Bystrica, IG Nacht der Komponisten Austria, New Faces New Dances 2008 Salzburg, Österreichische Woche der Mikrotonale Musik, Internationales Gitarren-Festival Hallein, Sävellyspaja-Avanti! 2009, Spanish Evenings in San Petersburg, Expo 2010 Shanghai, University of Santo Tomas Guitarra 2010 Manila, FIMna, Sommerakademie Salzburg, Dark Days Festival Reykjavik, Aspekte Festival Salzburg, etc. He has been awarded at Foret d´Orleans Festival (France) and at Festival Internacional de Velez-Malaga (Spain). He has been composer in residence from the Austrian government in 2010.

His music has been conducted by D. Russell-Davies, S. Fontanelli, T. Ceccherini, J. Kalitzke (with OENM), Hannu Lintu (with Avanti Chamber Orchestra), Alexis Soriano (with S. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra), Hansjörg Schellenberger (with Sinfónica de Sevilla), Konstantin Hiller and C. Chamorro among others. His compositions have been broadcasted and recorded by ORF in Austria. He publishes his music for Doblinger Verlag.

He has written for different music groups; including solo, chamber music, orchestral, theater plays, choreographies and four chamber operas.

Castiilla-Avila is supported by the City of Salzburg and the Region of Salzburg.

- “A very high degree of originality, he is always in search for new horizons”. Alexander Müllenbach, director of the Sommerakademie Mozarteum Salzburg.

- “Eine künstlerische Persönlichkeit die eine große Karriere haben wird”. Adriana Hölszky.

- “Castilla-Ávila has to be counted to the most excellent artistic figures of our days”. Johannes Kotschy, Chairman of the International Ekmelic Music Society in Austria.

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