After graduating from San Pedro Roman
Catholic School, Barrington enrolled at San Pedro High School where he
kept busy in the school's musical program as a member of the band. He
learned to play keyboard, drums, bass and to sing vocals for the choir.
Barry was soon given an opportunity to travel to Belize City with the
music class to perform at the Bliss Institute (now the Bliss Center for
the Performing Arts) for the Children's Festival of Arts. After the
performance, his cousin (a dancer) introduced him to the director of the
Belize National Dance Company. The director was impressed with
Barrington's musical talent and invited him to travel with the dance
group to the Festival of the Pyrenees in Europe.
In the summer of 1997, Barrington traveled with the
country's renowned troupe to places such as France, Germany and Spain.
The company danced and performed, as Barry sang vocals at concerts that
portrayed the rich culture of Belize featuring Punta Rock and Reggae
music. He received the same invitation three years later, however, this
time he traveled through Italy and Milan. "It was a wonderful experience,
one I'll never forget," he exclaimed.
Barrington graduated from San Pedro High School in
June of 2001 but returned that fall as the school's musical director.
Now, it was his turn, as the new director, to take "his choir" to the
Bliss Institute to perform for the Children's Festival of Arts. "I wanted
them to experience the same thing I had ñ to perform the music that they
had worked so hard on for a wider audience," he explained.
In 2003, Barrington wanted more free time to devote to
his own goals, so he went to work for six months as a sales
representative at Budget Discount Warehouse, a retail store (toys and
appliances). During his free time, he also established his own band and
earned extra money entertaining crowds around the island. Barrington's
band, "The Islanders," play five nights a week and take bookings for
weddings and other private events, as well. In conjunction with Nemesis,
a group of three disc jockeys from Belize City, The Islanders travel
countrywide entertaining crowds. Every other week, the band travels to
Orange Walk Town to perform at Chino's Barefoot Bar.
Barrington recently started his own enterprise known
as Island Entertainment, a mini-recording studio located in his home,
where musicians can record their music and improve their talents. Through
this venture, he has provided an outlet for young musicians to pursue
their own musical careers. In April of this year, Barrington seized an
opportunity to introduce some of his work to the local population with a
"massive" music explosion during Easter Fest 2004. "During the Fest, we
showcased our local Belizean talent. Belizeans are capable of providing
great music and awesome beats that are sure to keep you entertained," he
mentioned.
Later this year, Barrington plans to travel to Los
Angeles, California to record his first professional compact disc.
"Belizean culture and music is so rich, it is a shame that the rest of
the world has not had the opportunity to enjoy it," he explained as the
reason for pitching his CD in the United States.
In his free time, Barrington spends time enjoying the
beauty of Ambergris Caye with his fiancÈe, Rhonda Sanker, and their
two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Kaylah. He also loves to play
basketball and "shoots hoops" whenever he has the time.
Barrington is fortunate to have pursued his
interest in music and made a career out of it. "People have to understand
that in the music industry you have to ëpay your dues' as we say. It is
usually one step forward, three steps back," he ended.
A very ambitious and talented young musician
with much to offer the music industry, Barrington Castillo strives to
promote Belize's artists, rich culture and music. In doing this he has
developed a beautiful beat in "Our Community."
