With Performances in “Wicked” and at the National Flute Association, Christina Castellanos is Changing the School of Music “For Good”
Flute professor Christina Castellanos has been “Defying Gravity” since joining BYU’s School of Music in 2022.
This May, Castellanos performed “Wicked” in multiple Broadway shows at the Eccles Theatre; she even brought a few of her flute students to shadow her in the pit. Last August, she also brought a group to perform, network and practice their craft at the National Flute Association convention. Castellanos is truly giving BYU’s School of Music a reason to sing “Thank Goodness.”
Although performing in Wicked was not her Broadway debut — she has also played in The Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music to name a few — this experience was memorable for both professor Castellanos and her students. She brought all of her flute students (one per show) to experience a Broadway show from the pit. “It was fun to see my students in that setting,” Castellanos shared. “Some of them knew all the words in the show, so it was cool to see them experience it from a different perspective.”
Hannah Davis, a sophomore studying flute performance, had the chance to shadow professor Castellanos backstage. Davis said that “it was an incredible experience. Seeing my professor in her element as a musician inspired me to believe that I, too, could one day work as a musician.”
But this opportunity was more than just enjoyable for the students — it was also educational.
“I would share information about networking with other musicians and finding contractors when they came to the pit for a show,” Castellanos said. “I have found that it is really important to build connections with not only the contractors who hire you, but your fellow musicians as well. Your reputation is a huge part of getting opportunities to play.”
Another tip that professor Castellanos shared is to learn how to play multiple instruments. In this production of Wicked, for example, Castellanos played five flutes: C flute, alto flute, piccolo, recorder and penny whistle. Castellanos also believes that flutists should be able to play piccolo and alto flute at the very least, so she intentionally chooses orchestral excerpts including these instruments for them to practice. “Learning piccolo and alto flute is so important to diversify your resume,” she said. “The more instruments you play, the more you get paid — so it's beneficial to become proficient on several instruments.”
This experience was not the first time that professor Castellanos provided students with a unique opportunity to further their craft.
In August of 2024, as a recipient of the BYU Laycock Endowment Grant, Castellanos and a dozen flute students traveled to San Antonio, Texas for the National Flute Association’s annual convention. While there, Castellanos performed a contemporary solo with composer Ian Clarke in attendance. Students performed as a BYU flute choir — they even invited a student from BYU’s Department of Dance to accompany their piece with movement and displayed original artwork to coincide with the birdsong theme. Two students (Rebekah Holladay and Madison Franklin) even won positions in The National Flute Association Collegiate Flute Choir on flute and alto flute.
Music theory and composition major Daniel Woodfield attended the convention with Castellanos and played in the flute choir. He said that he sometimes doubts his ability to succeed as a musician, but the NFA convention gave him a new perspective and connections that flipped his doubts on their head: “I was shocked by how little anyone cared to sound perfect,” he said. “Gradually I realized that — serious business or not — music simply cannot do away with mistakes, surprises, failures or rejections; I really belong.”
For students like Woodfield, the National Flute Association’s convention was a great opportunity to see world-class flutists teach and perform. Castellanos adds that “it is important to build camaraderie within the flute studio, and that was an amazing way to build some lifelong bonds. My students need to see that people do not always come knocking,” she adds. “You have to let people know that you are around and create your own destiny.”
Professor Castellanos models this successful independence for her students with grace and humility. Olivia Coleman, a senior studying psychology, is hoping to become a therapist with an emphasis in music therapy. She was able to attend both of these experiences and has a deep admiration for professor Castellanos and her work in the School of Music: “The pure love of Christ radiates around her. It is an indescribable feeling, but I think it can be summed up in a bright, warm and loving countenance for all those around her: colleagues, strangers, students, friends and family. But she still pushes us to be the absolute best we can be.”
“It is because of these experiences that I feel so much more confident as a performer,” Coleman continues. “I will take her lessons, her confidence, her unceasing love and her love for music with me into my career — both as a performer and, hopefully, a therapist.”
Because of her exceptional career and diligence in teaching students how to succeed, Christina Castellanos is truly hitting all of the School of Music’s “Popular” notes. “It was cool to see professor Castellanos use techniques and skills that she has taught me in private lessons and masterclasses,” Davis said. “She is an incredible teacher, mentor and friend.”