Biography

Guatemalan-American cellist Rony Castro is an emerging young artist recognized for his expressive playing and remarkably rapid musical development. Born in Dodge City, Kansas, and raised in Guatemala, he began studying the cello at the age of fifteen after returning to the United States.

Within only a few years, Castro established himself as one of Kansas’s leading young cellists, serving as Principal Cellist of the Wichita Youth Symphony Orchestra during the 2023–2024 season and participating in the KMEA All-State Full Orchestra.

As a soloist, Castro has appeared with orchestras following top prizes in several competitions. He received Second Prize in the Wichita Symphony Youth Talent Competition, First Prize in the Delano Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, and First Prize in the 2026 Chatelain Young Artist Competition, culminating in his solo debut at the renowned Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City where he performed the Dvořák Cello Concerto.

Castro has participated in several music festivals such as the Ascent Chamber Music Festival, Green Lake Music Festival, and Festival del Lago, studying with distinguished artists including Melissa Kraut, Alan Rafferty, Yoshika Masuda, Horacio Contreras, Natasha Brofsky, Darrett Adkins, Amir Eldan, Richard Aaron and The Kronos Quartet.

An active chamber musician, Castro is the cellist of the Rockhill String Quartet, an emerging Kansas City–based ensemble featured on 91.9 Classical KC and NPR’s High Plains Public Radio. He also serves on the faculty of the Southwest Kansas Youth Orchestras Program, an initiative committed to expanding access to music education.

Castro is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where he studies with Professor Michael Mermagen.