Mezzo-Soprano Anamer Castrello, a native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, hailed by critics as “lush powerful and passionate voice” (Washington Post); noted for “her singing always refined, her phrasing accomplished with finesse “(Opera News); and “has a wonderfully expressive face that is captivating to watch” (Washington City Paper); is quickly gaining recognition as a sought-after, diverse, versatile, and compelling vocal artists on the scene today.

Her 2014-2015 operatic season is marked by several high profile debuts. Anamer Castrello was a featured soloist in the September, 2015, Canonization Mass of Junípero Serra, celebrated by Pope Francis, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. In May 2015,she had her Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Hall performingMaddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto Quartet. She also performed the roles of Lily and Strawberry Woman in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, with Dicapo Opera on tour to Mexico City at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the roles of Mamma Lucia in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Gertrude in Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet with the Maryland Lyric Opera, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, which won her, great critical acclaim.

Upcoming performances are the role of the Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the night visitors with Bel Cantanti, and the role of Carmen in Carmen in Havana based on Bizet’s Carmen with the Washington Ballet and IN Series, in Washington, DC. Also the alto soloist in Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony under the baton of Glenn Quader.

Concert performances for 2014-2015 have included mezzo-soprano soloist for Luis Bacalov’s Misa Tango with the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Scott Tucker, at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, and Lawrence Ries’s Sea Surface Full of Clouds (World Premiere) with The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ul James. Other concert works include the Mozart’s Requiem, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Duruflé’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony.

Anamer Castrello holds a Doctoral degree in Vocal Performance from Catholic University of America. Among her awards are; 2^nd place award-winner at the Gulf Coast Regional Auditions for the Metropolitan Opera, winner at the Catholic University Concerto/Aria Competition, “Best Latino Female Vocalist” at the Washington Area Music Awards, and the “Operatic Singing Artist of the Year Award” from the Institute of Puerto Rico in New York. Ms. Castrello has delighted Washington DC audiences in appearances with the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Orchestra, the Capital City Symphony, Opera Camerata of Washington, Shakespeare Theatre, Opera Americana, Washington National Opera, Diaspora Opera of Washington, GALA Hispanic Theater, Zarzuela Di Si, Washington Concert Opera, Lyric Opera of Baltimore, and the In Series.

She also participated at the International Opera Festival in Rome, Italy playing Marcellina in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Other roles include, Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Zia Principessa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen, Madame Flora in Menotti’s The Medium, Ottavia in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Cornelia in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Luisa Fernanda in Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda, Estrelda in Sousa’s El Capitan, Paloma in Barbieri’s El Barberillo de Lavapies, and Maria la O in Lecuona’s Maria la O, among others.

Currently Anamer is a Teaching Artist with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Lyric Opera of Baltimore in their Education and Community Programs. Anamer Castrello is a proud member of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and the Actor’s Equity Association.