Esteban Ruiz

Esteban Ruiz is a musician from Reading, Pennsylvania.

He began playing violin in third grade and has studied with Brad Richards and Diane Monroe. He has participated in many ensembles playing violin including the Reading Symphony Junior String Orchestra, Reading Symphony Youth Orchestra,  MEBC Junior County Orchestra, and MEBC Senior County Orchestra. He has also participated in PMEA District 10 Orchestra, Region V Orchestra, and All-State Orchestra. He is active in school as concertmaster of the orchestra and chamber orchestra, and plays in the quartet and jazz band as well.

He has been playing bass since eighth grade and has studied with Bennie Sims, Skip Moyer, Ben Wolfe, and Domenick Fiore. Esteban plays regularly throughout his area and has played at Berks Jazz Fest with names such as Bennie Sims and the Groovemasters, SO WHAT!, Gerald Veasley, and Eric Marienthal. He has participated in PMEA All-State Jazz Band. He also plays bass in his school orchestra and jazz band.

Esteban also plays regularly in the pit for his school's musicals. He has also performed with other instruments such as mandolin, Puerto Rican cuatro, and guitar. His experiences have covered a variety of genres from classical music to bluegrass, funk, jazz, and more.

He has won many awards and scholarships, namely being the 2024 Billy Strayhorn Foundation Jazz Education Scholarship Recipient from Litchfield Jazz Camp. He has also received many awards through his school and community such as the National School Orchestra award, Katherine N. Quartner - Rita Quartner Herman String Scholarship, Thomas B. Souders String Scholarship (Honorable Mention), and Outstanding Soloist Awards at the Twin Valley Jazz Festival, Kutztown Area High School Jazz Festival, and Berks Jazz Fest.

Music is what keeps Esteban's heart beating. He has a desire to continue to grow on his musical journey and to inspire fellow musicians.