Biography
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. He has also taken week long intensive classes with Roland Dyens, David Russell, Costas Cotsiolis and Angelo Gilardino. His first CD, Andaluza, was internationally distributed by Centaur records in 1996, a Duo CD with Jefffrey Warren named Duos Dialogues in 2009 and a solo CD, Leyendas de Espana in 2015.
He is a frequent judge in juries in competitions nationally and internationally. He has given master classes throughout Mexico. He has performed at festivals in 15 cities in Mexico. He has also performed in Italy, Spain and England.
Degrees
B.A., Lewis College 1966