Castagnoli collaborates with RAI-Radiotelevisione Italiana as a musicologist in programs on contemporary music, leads a concert series in Turin, and is the editor of the musical review "Quaderni di Musica Nuova". He won several international composition contexts. His one act radio opera "To the Museum" (libretto by Ugo Nespolo) got a special mention of the Jury at 1991 Prix Italia. He was selected in many other events, like the World Music Days of the ISCM in Hong Kong in 1988. Luciano Berio conducted his music. Castagnoli has also received commissions from Radio France, RAI-Italian Radio, the City of Geneva, Stamford Chamber Orchestra (U.S.A.), Radio Suisse Romande, and from festivals, soloists and ensembles including the Elision Ensemble, Melbourne, Nieuw Ensemble, Amsterdam, Divertimento Ensemble, Milan, Xenia Ensemble, Turin. Castagnoli was invited by DAAD – Senate of Berlin as composer in residence 1998–99 and in summer 2003. As a musicologist, he obtained scholarship from the Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel in 1999. Luciano Berio commissioned from him his Concerto per Violoncello e Doppia Orchestra, for Santa Cecilia 2002 which had a 3 concert season in Rome.
