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John Wheaton Casto was an American composer of classical music, born on May 12, 1920, in Charleston, West Virginia. He was the youngest of three children born to John and Mary Casto. His father was a coal miner, and his mother was a homemaker. Casto showed an early interest in music, and his parents encouraged him to pursue his passion. Casto began his musical education at the age of six, studying piano with a local teacher. He quickly showed a talent for the instrument and began performing in public at the age of eight. He continued his piano studies throughout his childhood and adolescence, and by the time he graduated from high school, he had already composed several pieces of music. After high school, Casto attended West Virginia University, where he studied music theory and composition. He also continued his piano studies and performed in recitals and concerts. During his time at WVU, Casto composed several works for orchestra, including his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the university orchestra in 1942. After graduating from WVU in 1943, Casto enlisted in the United States Army and served as a musician in the Army Band. He was stationed in Europe during World War II and performed for troops and civilians in England, France, and Germany. During his time in the Army, Casto continued to compose music, and several of his works were performed by the Army Band. After the war, Casto returned to the United States and settled in New York City. He continued to compose music and began to establish himself as a composer in the classical music world. In 1950, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to Europe and study with some of the leading composers of the day, including Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland. During the 1950s and 1960s, Casto composed several works that became well-known in the classical music world. His Symphony No. 2, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1954, received critical acclaim and established Casto as a major composer. Other notable works from this period include his Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered by the pianist Van Cliburn in 1958, and his String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Juilliard String Quartet in 1962. In addition to his work as a composer, Casto was also a respected music educator. He taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Juilliard School. He was known for his innovative teaching methods and his ability to inspire his students to reach their full potential. Casto continued to compose music throughout his life, and his later works showed a maturity and depth that reflected his years of experience as a composer. His Symphony No. 3, which was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1980, was hailed as a masterpiece and cemented Casto's reputation as one of the leading composers of his generation. John Wheaton Casto died on June 15, 1995, at the age of 75. He left behind a legacy of music that continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world. His contributions to the classical music world are significant, and his influence can be heard in the works of many contemporary composers.

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