Maria Ana Castillo Bernabe was born in Quezon City, Philippines, started studies at the Univeristy of the Philippines College of music in 1979 and obtained her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano in 1985. During her piano studies in this university, she also had violin and viola lessons from Prof. Sergio Esmilla, the country's top violin pedagogue. She became first violinist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra from 1982-1985, and from 1985 - 1987 was Co principal viola of the Manila Chamber orchestra.
She then later continued her studies of the viola in Vienna at the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien from 1987-1989 with prof. Herwig Zelle and then transfered to the Hochschule fuer Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Wien wth Prof. Wolfgang Klos where she obtained her Concert Diploma in 1994.
Ana is currently a piano accompanist and Viola instructor in the Orange Regional Conservatorium.
