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Norman Ruiz
Praised by the London Times for his "pleasing tone" and "relaxed stage manner", Norman Ruiz has established himself as a master teacher and a virtuoso of the classical guitar. He has appeared with some of the most esteemed classical musical groups in the Midwest, including an appearance with the Chicago Symphony as soloist performing the "Canario" movement of Rodrigo's "Fantasia para un Gentilhombre". In 1997, he appeared with nine other members of the CSO performing Luciano Berio's rarely heard and technically demanding "Sequenza" for guitar at Northwestern University's Pick-Staiger concert hall. The Guadagnini Ensemble, made up of members of the CSO, chose him to perform the guitar part of Arnold Schoenberg's "Serenade" in a concert held in the Symphony Center's Grand Ballroon. His talents as soloist with orchestra are in constant demand and his specialties, the Concertos of Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Joaquin Rodrigo, have led to appearances with numerous orchestras in the Chicago area, including the Illinois Philharmonic, directed by Carmen De Leone, and the Elmhurst Symphony conducted by Dale Cleavenger.
Norman Ruiz has performed internationally as well. In 1985, he performed in London's famed Wigmore Hall, the Carnegie Hall of England. In 2002, he presented the world premier of Gustavo Leone's Guitar Concerto with the Orquesta de Camera of Morelia, Mexico. More recently, he was artist-in-residence at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, performing a solo recital and serving as resident instructor. In 1992, he was selected by Pepe Romero to perform in the Gran Teatro in Cordoba, Spain, during the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra. His solo recital in the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in 1984 at Preston Bradley Hall in Chicago was broadcast nationwide over WFMT radio. In 1988, he was included with other guitar luminaries on the Masters of the Guitar series presented by the Chicago Guitar Society.
Mr. Ruiz has had instruction with some of the world's finest guitarists. In 1992, he studied the guitar concertos of Joaquin Rodrigo with famed guitarist Christopher Parkening. One of the highlights of his career came in 1992 when he had the honor of performing some of Joaquin Rodrigo's works for the composer himself at his home in Madrid. He has studied with Pepe Romero at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra in Cordoba Spain in 1992 and 1996. He has also had master classes with Oscar Ghiglia and Manuel Lopez Ramos. In 1986, he was selected from an international search to participate in a master class given by Andres Segovia at the University of Southern California. His first CD, Andaluza, was internationally distributed by Centaur records in 1996, and he is currently working on his second CD which will include music of Joaquin Rodrigo, Antonio Jose and Leo Brouwer.
Norman Ruiz's desire is to introduce the classical guitar to new audiences. This desire has led him to perform at many schools and libraries in the Chicago land area. He has also given lectures on the guitar, as well as master classes at many universities in the United States and Mexico.
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