Songwriter and Composer

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With over 21 years of experience in the music industry, I have crafted more than 500 commercially released songs and instrumentals, partnering with companies around the world to create music that resonates across a wide range of media. As a member of the Australian Performing Rights Association (APRA), I have earned full-writer status, and I’m also a professional member of the Screen Music and Sound Guild of New Zealand.

I hold a Licentiate Diploma in Electric Guitar (LLCM TD) from the London College of Music, and my songwriting has earned recognition in prestigious competitions. Highlights include being named a Semi-Finalist in the 2019 International Songwriting Competition for my track “Eating My Mortgage for Breakfast,” and winning the New Zealand Ukulele Festival Songwriting Competition in both 2017 and 2014 for my songs “Happy Holidays” and “Ukulele Day.” In 2015, I was awarded the World Federation of Music Therapy’s songwriting award for “WFMT.”

Throughout my career, my passion has been creating music that not only tells stories but also makes a lasting impact on listeners worldwide.

Registered Music Therapist

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With over 16 years of experience as a Registered Music Therapist, I have dedicated my career to supporting individuals in the fields of disabilities, mental health, dementia, and aged care. I hold a PhD in Music Therapy and a Master’s degree with First Class Honours in Music Therapy from Victoria University, New Zealand.

I am a registered music therapist with both the Australian Music Therapy Association and the New Zealand Music Therapy Registration Board (registration under my official name, Ajay Castelino). I am also a full member of Music Therapy New Zealand (MThNZ) and have contributed to the field by holding the health portfolio for New Zealand. Additionally, I served on the committee that established the New Zealand Music Therapy Standards of Practice.

Throughout my career, I have received several prestigious awards, including the Marian Rayward Memorial Scholarship in Music (2017 & 2008) and the McKenzie Music Therapy Scholarship (2019, 2016 & 2008). I have been honored with research grants and published articles in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed journals, such as Australasian Psychiatry, Arts in Psychotherapy and the New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy. As an invited international speaker, I have had the privilege of presenting on music therapy in Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand.

My work is driven by a deep commitment to the therapeutic power of music and its potential to improve lives across diverse communities.

Composite Guitar Designer

Before transitioning into the music world, I trained and worked as a mechanical engineer. While pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering with Honours (BE(Hons)) from Auckland University, I combined my engineering skills with a passion for music by designing a groundbreaking composite electric guitar.

This innovative guitar design won the prestigious University of Auckland “Innovative Project with Potential for Global Commercialisation” award in 2000, and it was also a finalist in the 2001 Institute of Professional Engineers NZ Student Design Award.

I was fortunate to receive praise from industry experts, including Mark Bell of New Zealand Musician, who said:
“Conceptually, I believe they’re onto a real winner, and have clearly done their homework as far as resonance and harmonic response goes.”

This experience sparked my deep interest in how engineering and design can shape the future of musical instruments, blending both science and art to create unique, high-performance guitars.