Juan Ruiz – Musician & Composer: “Jazz allows me to just be myself” (StageLync Podcast Ep.9)

Born in Medellín, Colombia, Juan Ruiz has emerged as one of the most sought-after jazz musicians in the New York City music scene, where he continues to delight audiences with his music and poetry as the leader of his band.

He began his studies in Medellin, Colombia, with Elizabeth Isaza at the Universidad de Antioquia. During this time, he was part of several music projects in the city, including the Antioquia Youth Symphony and the Symphonic Band of the Universidad de Antioquia as a clarinetist.

In 2006, he was awarded a scholarship to continue his musical studies in Boston, where he studied Composition and jazz performance on clarinet and saxophone at the Longy School of Music and Berklee College of Music. He studied under the tutelage of Ken Radnofsky, Greg Hopkins, Shannon Leclaire, John Morrison, and Ed Tomassi.

Juan collaborates in commissioned work with Maestro Kenneth Radnofsky, professor at the New England Conservatory and the Wind Ensemble of New England Conservatory. His most recent compositions have been presented in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Germany, and the United States.

A promoter of collaboration, Juan performs with different groups in New York City. He is the personal assistant of the 15-time Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera, composing, arranging, and performing a diverse repertoire during his concerts in New York and abroad.

Juan has also worked as a producer for different projects including artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, The New York Voices, Paquito D’Rivera and Chucho Valdés among others.

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Ana Aguliera
Technical Director, Podcast Co-Host -MEXICO
Ana is a Technical Director and Scuba Instructor with a passion for water, technology, and the arts.

She has experience in water, acrobatic, ice shows as well as musicals, opera, theatre and dance. She likes both creation, and operations.
Ana co-hosts the Stagelync podcast.

When she is not working on a production, doing research or curating for the podcast, or recording interviews, you can find her diving, hanging out in nature or catching up with the news in the industry and the arts world. She is also an avid cyclist, swimmer, reader and learner.

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Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.

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Ana Aguliera

Ana is a Technical Director and Scuba Instructor with a passion for water, technology, and the arts. She has experience in water, acrobatic, ice shows as well as musicals, opera, theatre and dance. She likes both creation, and operations. Ana co-hosts the Stagelync podcast. When she is not working on a production, doing research or curating for the podcast, or recording interviews, you can find her diving, hanging out in nature or catching up with the news in the industry and the arts world. She is also an avid cyclist, swimmer, reader and learner.