AAPI Heritage Month Spotlight: Caster Teoh, Teaching Artist & Conductor
Caster conducting an ensemble of Harmony Project students.
For over several years, Caster has been a brass teaching artist in Harmony Project. He has been inspiring students through his expertise as a musician and conductor. Caster’s career has spanned multiple continents and he has consistently carried his Malaysian Chinese heritage as a core pillar of his artistic identity. We chatted with Caster to discuss both his background and his musical journey.
Harmony Project: Can you tell us about your heritage?
Caster: I was born and raised in Malaysia, a multicultural country rich with diversity in language, food, and traditions. I identify as Malaysian Chinese; growing up in such a unique environment allowed me to experience different cultures from a very young age. I speak Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien, and each language connects me to different parts of my identity.
HP: What drew you to a life in music?
Caster: I first began as a violinist but later switched to trumpet after being deeply inspired by iconic Hollywood film scores like Jurassic Park and Star Wars. For me, music gives me purpose, motivation, and emotional strength. Performing allows me to express emotions that words often cannot describe, while conducting allows me to understand how every musician contributes together to create a meaningful experience.
Caster congratulating his student after a performance.
HP: Why is teaching and conducting important to you?
Caster: I love seeing young people grow up with music. Watching students develop confidence and discipline is incredibly rewarding. Whether my students pursue professional music careers at institutions like UCLA or become doctors and engineers, music enriches their lives and creates lifelong joy. As a conductor, I enjoy bringing people together from different backgrounds and uniting them through one shared artistic goal.
HP: How has your background intersected with your musical journey?
Caster: Growing up in Malaysia, I was surrounded mainly by popular and multicultural influences; Western classical music initially felt very unfamiliar. However, encountering passionate teachers transformed my life. They taught me the importance of discipline, humility, and curiosity. I believe music has the extraordinary ability to connect people emotionally and spiritually, regardless of where we come from.
About Harmony Project:
Harmony Project is a nonprofit that provides high-quality music instruction and social support to children year-round at no cost throughout community hubs in Los Angeles. As one of Los Angeles’ largest music education organizations, Harmony Project is dedicated exclusively to serving children from low-income families and under-resourced communities. Harmony Project envisions a world in which all students have equal access to opportunities to learn how to play music and the resources needed to thrive in college and beyond. Harmony Project’s holistic approach to student success has resulted in impressive outcomes with 98 percent of the graduating high school class accepted to a college or university during the 2024-2025 academic year.