A multi-talented percussionist, composer, arranger, band Leader, lecturer and educator, Juan R. Castellanos, also known to the music world as "Cuco", was born in Camaguey, Cuba, in 1970. He has been described as “a young virtuoso percussionist with the ability to play a large range of percussion instruments and styles” (Pedro de la Hoz, Granma Cuban National Newspaper 1991).

Juan began his musical studies at the age of 5, learning piano, guitar and music theory. At the age of 10 he was accepted into Cuba's premier music education institution, La Escuela Vocacional de Arte, where he began a thirteen-year career in Music Education and Percussion.

Juan holds an M.A. in Music Education and Music Performance (specializing in percussion) a University Professorship Certificate from the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, Cuba, and a B.A from The Professional School of Music in Camaguey, Cuba. He is member of The Percussive Arts Society, The Philadelphia Teachers Federation, and a founding member of The Association of Cuban Percussionists.

As well as maintaining an extremely active performance career, he also works as a full time Percussion Specialist for the Department of Performing and Creative Arts (The School District of Philadelphia), Adjunct Professor at Chestnut Hill College, Percussion and Ensemble Instructor for the Latin American Music Association (AMLA), Workshop Leader and Coordinator for The Strings for Schools Program, Music Program Director and Coordinator for TheBoys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, and Music and Percussion Instructor at The Mt. Airy Learning Tree.

Juan has performed with top international artists such as: The Buena Vista Social Club, Chucho Valdes, Tata Guines, The Chieftains, The Corrs, Carlos Nuñez, Bobby Carcases, Johnny Pacheco, Orlando Valle and many others. He has collaborated with such artists as: Luis Quintero, John Santos, Orestes Vilató, and Dafnies Prieto, just to name a few.

In 1996 while teaching at The Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana Cuba, he was invited to Ireland to teach and compose at Walton's New School of Music in Dublin. During his eight years of performing and teaching in Ireland (1996-2003), Juan established himself as one of the most acclaimed percussionists in the country, performing at World Music Festivals such as the Cork Jazz Fest and across Europe with National and International musicians. Juan collaborated with The Chieftains on their albums “Tears of Stone”and “The Chieftains 40th Anniversary Album” along with Van Morrison, The Corrs and Carlos Nuñes. He has also appeared live at Dublin Castle, Olympia Theatre, and The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

As an educator, Juan has developed and implemented educational programs at many renowned institutions across Europe, Latin America, and the United States, including:

  • The National Concert Hall (NCH) Outreach Educational Program as Guest Artist and Lecturer
  • Walton's New School of Music, as Professor of World Percussion, Orchestral Percussion, Latin Jazz Piano, Latin Jazz and Percussion Ensembles, Lecturer and Outreach Workshop Leader
  • ESB Summer Music School, as Founder and Artistic Director
  • Marino College, as Professor of Percussion Ensembles
  • St. Patrick's College, as Guest Artist and Lecturer
  • St. John of God and St. Paul's Special Schools (a special needs research program for children with Autism and learning disabilities), as Music Director and Program coordinator.  This program was awarded The Living Guinness Dublin Award, for its exceptional contributions to the city of Dublin's and the community at large
  • The Instituto Superior de Arte, as Adjunct Professor of Orchestral and Afro-Cuban percussion