Carlos José Castro received the prestigious Latin Grammy award in the category of “Best Composer Contemporary Classical Music” in 2008 for his Concierto del Sol (recorded by guitarist Mario Ulloa with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Costa Rica, directed by Marvin Araya). He is also a three-time winner of the National Music Prize Aquileo J. Echeverría, the highest award given by the Ministry of Culture of Costa Rica. His music sweeps all genres: orchestral, concerto, chamber, theatre, as well as music for solo guitar, and has been performed in Cuba, Mexico, the United States, Germany, Poland, Spain, France, Italy, and Costa Rica. Carlos José Castro studied at the Conservatorio Castella, the Universidad de Costa Rica, and the Cidesin (Interamerican Center for Instrumental Studies). His teachers include Benjamín Gutiérrez, Rand Steiger, Blas Emilio Atehortúa, Leo Brouwer, David Vayo, and Bernal Flores. He currently teaches musical theory at the Instituto Nacional de la Música and the University of Costa Rica, a work he combines with freelance composing, music producing, and scriptwriting.