As one of the only Latino students in a big elementary school, a young Armando Castellano was put in a challenging situation.  “It was right after the laws had changed, and they were allowing people of color to move into these neighborhoods,” Castellano says. “I experienced an incredible amount of racism. It really chipped at my self-esteem. But somehow in music class I felt more at ease.” His experience at school encouraged a lifelong passion for classical music. But it also illustrated the reality of living within the antiquated, racist hierarchies of our country. As Castellano progressed from a fledgling [...more...]