The Project
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The Team
Federico García De Castro
Professor of Composition and Theory at EAFIT University since 2021. Between 2001 and 2022, he lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he earned his doctorate in composition and theory (University of Pittsburgh, 2006) and pursued a career as a composer and conductor, as co-founder and artistic director of Alia Musica Pittsburgh, where he produced and conducted 15 concert seasons featuring music by living composers and modern classics ranging from Ives and Varèse to Berio and Haas. He also directed three editions of the Pittsburgh Festival of New Music in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
His music has been performed in twelve countries around the world, from Colombia to Thailand and Australia. His works include Under the Shadow of Orion (commissioned in 2026 by the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra); Surround, for six harps surrounding the audience (2018); Memory, for soprano, violin, cello, guitar, and percussion (2015); and Passacaglia on a Theme by Bach (2001).
García De Castro investigates the history and syntax of tonal music, and is the creator of the Harmonic Profile Project, as well as the YouTube channel First Sight Analysis.
Bill Shaltis
Bill Shaltis is the Assistant Professor of Percussion at the UMKC Conservatory in Kansas City, Principal Timpanist of the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra and Boise Baroque Orchestra, and is acting Assistant Principal Percussionist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Formerly, Shaltis was the Principal Timpanist of the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Percussionist of the Evansville Philharmonic and Owensboro Symphony, and on faculty at Missouri Southern State University and the University of Evansville. He has performed with the Kansas City, Utah, and Chattanooga symphonies and was a member of the Kansas City-based Marimba Sol de Chiapas.
Shaltis is a sought-after clinician and performer, including engagements in China, Colombia, Iceland, and throughout North America. He has been an invited clinician/performer at PASIC, the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, NAfME, the College Music Society International Convention, and the Midwest Clinic.
Additionally, he has performed or presented at numerous state conferences, Day of Percussion events, and universities throughout the country.
Equally passionate about pedagogy and new music, Shaltis has commissioned or commissioned through consortium several works for percussion, including compositions by Evan Williams, Casey Cangelosi, Ivan Trevino, Joe Moore, Chad Rehmann, Quinn Mason, and Von Hanson. He is a published composer through Bachovich Music Publications, and his recording Essence/Descent of 21st century timpani works is
available on all major streaming platforms. His upcoming recording project will feature works for solo snare drum and drum set brushes, including two world premieres by Joe Moore and Evan Williams.
Shaltis is a graduate of UMKC Conservatory of Music, Theater, and Dance (DMA), The Boston Conservatory (MM), and Michigan State University (BM-Music Education). He is a proud performing artist/clinician for Grover Pro Percussion, JGpercussion, Remo, Yamaha, and Zildjian.