Jesús Castro-Balbi

Jesús Castro-Balbi is a Professor of Music at Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Atlanta, Georgia. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) from The Juilliard School, a Master of Music from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music with Highest Honors from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique (Lyon, France). A globally recognized cellist, he has performed extensively across the Americas, Europe, and Asia, including at Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), and Seoul Arts Center, and is featured in 11 albums.

His research and creative work focus on expanding the cello literature, with 71 premiere performances and 20 world premiere recordings to his credit. Notable collaborations include performances of Osvaldo Golijov’s Azul with Miguel Harth-Bedoya and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and Jimmy López’s Lord of the Air with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (2015), which earned international critical acclaim and awards in Peru, France, and the U.S.

• Honors include the American Council on Education Fellowship (2018-19), the Aldo Parisot Prize (Yale School of Music), and distinctions for teaching and creative scholarship at Texas Christian University.
• He has taught at Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division and TCU, where he founded the TCU Cello Ensemble and Cellofest.

A passionate educator, he has conducted masterclasses at Beijing’s Central Conservatory, Paris Conservatoire, and Yale School of Music, and adjudicated at major international cello competitions. His leadership roles in academia include faculty senate chair and associate dean, reflecting his commitment to fostering communities of learners.