Biography

John Castillo is an accomplished educator and audiovisual producer, currently serving as a faculty member in the Department of Arts, Media, Performance and Design at York University, where he teaches courses in audio engineering and business entrepreneurship. With a distinguished career in the Canadian audiovisual production industry, John is renowned for his expertise in crafting cinematic and album-quality livestreams and broadcasts. He has collaborated with an impressive roster of musicians and organizations, including the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, l’Opéra de Montréal, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Louis Lortie, James Ehnes, Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, Zosha di Castri, Ana Sokolovic, Nicole Lizée, Marie-Mai, and Dubmatique.

In addition to his academic role, John is the founder and CEO of Scratch Takes, an audiovisual production company he established during his Master’s in Sound Recording at McGill University. The company was born out of his commitment to helping musicians enhance their social media presence, recognizing the growing importance of video marketing. Under his leadership, Scratch Takes has successfully partnered with both artists and corporations, offering specialized services in content creation and livestreaming.

In addition to his academic and professional roles, John runs a popular YouTube channel dedicated to audio, video, and media education attracting over 200,000 views per month. John's ongoing dedication to his craft and his students makes him a pivotal figure in shaping the future of audio production and media entrepreneurship at York.