Joseph Castro is a Bay Area native who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from California State University, East Bay, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Buddy James. He has traveled the world performing and conducting choirs in the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Israel, New York City, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout California.

Joseph's roots in choral conducting stem from his extensive involvement with various choral programs throughout the East San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to his current role at West High School, he served on the staff of Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley as Director of the Young Men's Division and Principal Vocal Coach for the community choir under the direction of Artistic Director Elena Sharkova, a renowned conductor and pedagogue.

In January 2025, Joseph was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of Valley Concert Chorale in Livermore, CA. With over 60 years of high-level music programming, VCC is recognized as one of the Tri-Valley’s premier community choral ensembles.

An active clinician and soloist, Joseph regularly collaborates with high school, collegiate, church, and community ensembles throughout the Bay Area and San Joaquin Valley. He has also served as an adjunct professor of music at Urshan College.

A proud husband and father of three, Joseph enjoys traveling, hiking, and sharing meaningful conversations over great meals with his family and close friends.

Diana Cefalo earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Walla Walla University studying piano and composition, and her Master of Music from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in composition. Currently she is an adjunct faculty member at Las Positas College where she is the Music Director for musical theater productions and conducts the Las Positas College orchestra as well as teaching piano. She also stays active composing and arranging works for various types of ensembles including wind ensemble, choral and orchestra as well as works for solo instrument and piano. Being an avid horn player, her composition “Twilight” for horn and piano won an award and was performed at the MTAC State Convention.   Her collection “Solos for the Beginning to Intermediate Horn Player”, is published on the International Horn Society web site.