Mexican conductor and organist Dr. David Castillo Gocher began his musical studies at the Mexican National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA). David currently serves as the Music Director at St. Catharine of Siena, conducting its choir and instrumental ensemble, overseeing the Siena Music Series, and providing organ music for services and recitals.  

In Cincinnati, David founded Ensemble con Fuoco (Ensemble with Fire), a professional vocal group dedicated to chamber choral music of all periods and musical styles currently in residence at St. Catharine of Siena. Recent seasons of Ensemble con Fuoco included performances of Brahms' Requiem Handel’s Dixit Dominus, MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados, and a concert featuring contemporary and early choral works.

While pursuing his doctoral studies in Chicago, David was the Music Director at First Methodist Church of Evanston. There, David conducted the festival choir dedicated to performing symphonic choral works. Performances included Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Faure’s Requiem, Honegger’s King David, and Beethoven’s Mass in C, among others. In Chicago, David served as a collaborative pianist, organist, and harpsichordist, accompanying professional, amateur, and university ensembles.
 
As an organist, David has performed in more than ten states in the US and throughout his native country Mexico. He made his Chicago Symphony Center debut playing the organ for Faure’s Requiem under Simon Carrington. He has also held posts as music director and organist in Massachusetts and Texas.

David holds a master’s degree in Sacred Music and Choral Conducting from Boston University. There, he conducted the Concert Choir, accompanied the Women’s Choir, and served as a student organist for the School of Theology worship services. After graduating from BU, David served as a Music Specialist for Milford High School, and became the music director of the Harbour Choral Arts Society. David holds an undergraduate music degree magna cum laude from Texas Christian University.
 
In his native Mexico, David served as a choral conductor for the National Convention of the Disciples of Christ and its All state College Chorus, resulting in numerous performances across Mexico. David has also been a visiting lecturer in sacred music for the National Seminary Disciples of Christ in Mexico. This summer, David collaborated with musicians at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in recordings of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.

A passionate supporter of Cincinnati non-profit organizations, David serves as a board member of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, an Advisory Council member of the Cincinnati Boychoir, and a board member of Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. He has served as a grant reviewer for Cincinnati Artswave on several occasions.
 
David earned the Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting from Northwestern University where he was a student of Dr. Robert Harris and Dr. Donald Nally. At Northwestern, David was the Assistant Conductor of the Northwestern Singers, accompanied the Women's Choir, and served as a student assistant for the conducting class. His research focused on The Role of Liberation Theology in the Choral/Organ works of James MacMillan.