Elmer Castillo is a composer who creates music for Film, video games, television, and interactive media. He began his musical journey at 19, studying piano while pursuing a degree in Conducting. In 2013, he moved to Japan to further his studies in piano with an emphasis on Jazz. Currently residing in Belgium, Elmer is completing his Master's in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music.

His unique compositional style blends the sonorities of various cultures, including those of North America, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe. 

 

Elmer has served in the US Army for over a decade, utilizing his musical skills as a composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor to contribute to communities across Asia, the United States, and Europe. He enlisted in 2010 and has performed with distinguished US Army bands such as the United States Army Japan Band in Zama-Shi Kanagawa, Japan, the 4th Infantry Division Band in Colorado, and The Army Materiel Command Band in Restone Arsenal, Alabama. Elmer also served as a piano instructor for soldiers in the Advanced Individual Training at the Army School of Music in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Currently, he serves as a pianist and arranger in the NATO International Band in Belgium.

 

Elmer holds a Bachelor's degree in conducting band from the National University of Colombia and is pursuing a Master's in Composition for Film and TV from Berklee College of Music.

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His compositional and arranging skills have been recognized in the annual US Army Bands competition, where his arrangements helped the band win the category of best ceremonial band performances in 2015 and 2017.

Elmer received the Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award in 2015 for his exceptional leadership qualities and outstanding musical talent, making significant contributions as an arranger and conductor.