She was born in Huelva (Spain) in 2000. Since 2024, she has been a student at the Reina Sofía School of Music, in the Clarinet Chair, under Professor Pascal Moraguès. She holds a Fundación Albéniz scholarship.
She completed her undergraduate degree in clarinet in 2023 at the Manuel Castillo Conservatory of Music (Seville) with Antonio Salguero, graduating with highest honours. She has also trained at the Barenboim-Said Foundation with Pablo Barragán since 2022. In addition, she has attended courses with Kilian Herold, Shirley Brill, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Enrique Pérez, José Joaquín Sánchez, Venancio Rius and Luis Cámara, and has received masterclasses from Pascual Martínez.
As a soloist, she has won first prize at the 10th Baezafest Young Performers Competition (2024)—which earned her the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the orchestra at the following festival—first prize at the 1st Repertoire with Accompanist Pianist Competition at the Manuel Castillo Conservatory of Music (2023), the award for Best Wind Performer at the 9th José Gámez Chamber Music Competition (2023), and second prize at the Soloists Competition of the Javier Perianes Conservatory (2019). She was also a finalist in the Young Bohème Orchestra of Madrid competition (2022) and a semifinalist in the Pedro Bote Competition (2023).
In the field of chamber music, noteworthy achievements include fourth prize with her Diven Trio at the 9th “José Gámez” Chamber Music Competition (2023), first prize at the 12th Roquetas de Mar “Música Viva” Competition, her participation in a Musethica session together with the international flautist Júlia Gallego (2024), and her performance at the 10th edition of the Baezafest Festival (2024).
She has also taken part in events such as the San Telmo Concert Series in 2022 and 2023, the 18th Series “A Commitment to Music” (2022), the opera “El gato montés” (2022) and “Nabucco” (2024) with the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville as part of its internal band, the 8th Series of the Javier Perianes Conservatory and UNIA, the 2nd Isla Cristina International Chamber Music Festival (2018), and the concert for Industry Day at the Gran Teatro de Huelva (2019).
María Castillo holds principal positions with the Andalusian Youth Orchestra, the Córdoba Youth Orchestra, and the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville Youth Orchestra.
As a student at the School, she has performed with the Fundación EDP Camerata (conducted by Giovanni Guzzo) and with the Sinfonietta (conducted by Johannes Kalitzke). She has also been a member of the Fundación Mutua Madrileña Group. She is currently a member of the Scarlatti Quintet of the Royal Mint and of the Cosan Ensemble.