Birch Creek Recognizes Castañeda For Two Decades of Service

Ricardo Castañeda. Submitted.

Birch Creek is pleased to recognize Ricardo Castañeda for his 20 years of service to the organization. He joins a circle of 22 faculty with more than 20 years of teaching and mentoring Birch Creek’s promising music students.

Castañeda made his solo debut with the National Symphony of El Salvador at age 15. He has since appeared as soloist in Latin America, Europe and the United States, most recently with the Lake Forest Symphony. An active freelance musician, Castañeda enjoys performing all genres of music. He has played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater and has been principal oboist for orchestras for The Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Joffrey Ballet as well as numerous Broadway in Chicago shows.

Castañeda spoke of his time at Birch Creek, “At Birch Creek we have the privilege of introducing young musicians to masterpieces of the orchestral repertoire as they experience what it is to rehearse and perform at the level, pace and with the intensity of a professional ensemble. Birch Creek has been and continues to be one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of my musical life.”

Castañeda will perform and teach at Birch Creek this summer. He can be seen performing during symphony concerts from July 4, 6-8, and 13-15. For tickets, go to birchcreek.org/tickets.