About Me

Zaira Castillo is an experimental pianist and sound artist whose work expands the possibilities of the piano through electroacoustic performance, improvisation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. While trained as a classical pianist, her practice has evolved toward creating immersive experiences through contemporary classical music, electroacoustic works, improvisation, and intermedia projects. Integrating electronics, lighting, gesture, and found objects, she explores new ways for performers and audiences to interact with sound, space, and the body.

Based in Chicago, Zaira has appeared at venues including Constellation, Elastic Arts, the Epiphany Center for the Arts, Experimental Sound Studio, Roosevelt University, and Northwestern University. Beyond Chicago, her work has taken her to Western Michigan University, Toledo Club OH, Western Oregon University, Colby College ME, and the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. She looks forward to performing with Duo Riso this spring at Codes d’accès in Montréal, Québec.

She has been featured in festivals and series such as SPLICE Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, Thirsty Ears Classical Music Festival, New Music Chicago’s Impromptu Fest, the Frequency Series, Freedom From / Freedom To, and the 2025 Time:Spans Festival with Ensemble Dal Niente.

Zaira is the co-founder of Duo Riso with clarinetist Evan Kopca. Together they have presented over ten new works throughout Chicago and beyond. Upcoming performances include appearances at Splice Festival VII and Electronic Music Midwest as well as a summer concert of world premieres presented as part of the Cleat Series at Elastic Arts.

An active educator, Zaira is a Steinway Educational Partner and teaches at the Music Conservatory of Illinois, where she mentors the next generation of musicians. When she is not performing or teaching, she enjoys long walks, teaching yoga (RYT-200), and documenting the world through film photography.