Ramon P. Castillo

Ramon P. Castillo serves as an Associate Teaching Professor in the Music Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, where he advances innovative intersections of music composition, technology, and live performance through unconventional instrument design.

His educational background includes:

• D.M.A. in Music Composition, Boston University (2008)
• B.M. in Music Composition, University of Missouri (2001)

Castillo's research pioneers Minecraft and video games as live musical instruments, expressive live looping techniques, and microcontroller-based circuit design for expanding musical expressivity. His signature project Autumn Ate Everything integrates these elements into a cohesive solo-performance framework, demonstrating how programming and hardware innovation can transform digital environments into expressive musical instruments. He actively disseminates these concepts through conferences including HOPE and SEAMUS.

Funding for his work includes an Open Text Materials Mini-Grant from UMass Lowell. His artistic practice spans diverse performance contexts, from 24/7 interactive Twitch installations to collaborations with Kronos Quartet and Terry Riley across venues like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.