“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, 

more devotedly than ever before.” 

― Leonard Bernstein

Composer – Poet – Multi-instrumentalist 
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.