Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Ruiz.
Hi Juan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an independent artist living in Boston, MA, since five years ago.
My story begins with the study of Venezuelan folk music, playing Cuatro (Venezuelan Guitar), Mandolin and Guitar. Later, as a Violist, I was a founding member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra “Raimundo Pereira” (chapter of “The Sistema”) in my town in Venezuela. Later, I studied lyrical and popular singing with the Baritone William Alvarado and the Contralto Inés Feo La Cruz.
My first album was a musical project joint with an ensemble of Venezuelan Cuatros. My second album is called “Prelude and Coda”, it is a romantic album that represents just the time to leave my country.
I have performed concerts in several cities in the USA and other countries. I have been a member of the Rumbarroco Ensemble in Boston, which was the first sponsor for my O1 Visa. I have collaborated as a performer and music instructor with other music institutions like to ArCoNet (The Arts & Community Network) in Montgomeryville, PA; Lorcas Music Society by Belmary Lorcas (Admissions and Recruitment Manager at Curtis Institute of Music, PA), The Winiker Jazz Trio, Zaira Meneses, and Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Among music festivals where I have performed are: ArtBeat 2019 (that is the city’s largest cultural festival of Somerville, MA), Dalí Quartet International music festival in Pennsylvania, Latin Music Festival 2019 of Berklee Latino (Berklee College of Music), and Semana Coral Internacional De Alava in 2000 (Spain)
In 2019, the Somerville Arts Council invited me to be a judge for its Local Cultural Council grant program.
Also, I am an Economist, a Master in Science in Operation Research, Master in Business Administration, and TEDx Talk Speaker. In Venezuela, I was a university professor and researcher at Universidad Central de Venezuela and Universidad Simón Bolívar. I was a speaker at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy and my papers have been published in Scientific Journals.
In 2018, I was invited as a speaker for a non for profit organization called Plan País, which provides educational experiences related to the progress of Venezuela to young Venezuelans abroad. It was at Boston University. Recently, I was invited as a speaker by INCAE Business School in Costa Rica and Universidad Latina de Costa Rica.
Currently, I am a music teacher in two important programs in Boston. First, called “Canta y Baila Conmigo” that is the very best research-based program that combines music education and language immersion. The second is a HiSET program by Catholic Charities (Archdiocese of Boston) that serves out-of-school youth in Boston.
Also, I am a member of the board of two not-for-profit organizations 501(c)(3): The Venezuelan Association of Our Lady of Coromoto in Boston (AVVC) and Latino STEM Alliance.
Lastly, I am a community member of the Impact Hub Boston, one of the world’s largest networks focused on building entrepreneurial communities for impact at scale — home to the innovators, the dreamers, and the entrepreneurs who are creating tangible solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
My new album named “Venezuelan Songbook” won a bronze medal at Global Music Awards.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well, it depends on the point of view. I believe in inspiration as a source of power. For example, My new album is a good and real challenge because it is a particular and innovative album. It is about English versions of traditional Venezuelan songs. But the ultimate inspiration was the possibility of communicating with my new audience through the music that I have played since I was a child: beautiful Venezuelan music. The possibility of contributing to the internationalization of the artwork of Venezuelan songwriters. Not less important, my inspirations are my fellow Venezuelan and our current situation as a country.
I believe that the art and creative economy leverage the development of a society. Lastly, I believe in the heritage of people who create for everyone and for the whole life. I believe in the leadership of artists. I believe in the power of music, connections, and innovation.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My specialty is to connect people through music.
Venezuelan Songbook is my third album that contains traditional Venezuelan songs all translated into English as an homage to the gracious welcoming of immigrant Venezuelans in English-speaking countries.
Inspired by the legendary American composer Sammy Cahn, who, in the 1970s, made English versions of traditional Venezuelan songs written by the beloved Aldemaro Romero, I created the Venezuelan Songbook to support the internationalization of Venezuelan songwriters, revitalize Venezuelan arts and culture, and connect with English-spéaking people in their own language.
Music is a common ground for everyone, free from barriers, laws, and nationalities that might otherwise divide people. I dare say that just as two violinists from different countries are both equal musicians when they read the same musical note in a score, so are two people who listen to a song that represents them equally. That is my goal. All of these efforts of translation and adaptation of traditional Venezuelan music are so that the songs can represent more and more people, so there are a greater commonality and understanding between cultures.
As we all know, Venezuela has been destroyed by a criminal dictatorship, but I believe that the country’s vibrant art and culture are the foundation for rebuilding society. Therefore, introducing, communicating, and sharing those Venezuelan values and cultural assets in all languages is essential for the country’s restoration.
According to the Migration Policy Institute of the USA, “the Venezuelan immigrant population in the United States has tripled since the year 2000, now making Venezuelans the fifth-largest immigrant group from South America.”
The Venezuelan Songbook is an artistic gift of thanksgiving for “the best Host nations.” The Venezuelan Songbook is a piece of art that facilitates real, effective, and rewarding cultural exchange.
I believe in the power of music, connections, and innovation. My hope is that the Venezuelan Songbook can truly unify people through music. I’ve put my heart into this album— it represents all that I love about my beautiful and artistic home country of Venezuela.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Humility.
Pricing:
- Listen for free the Venezuelan Songbook on your favorite streaming platform
Contact Info:
- Email: juancarlosusb@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.vozjuancarlos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vozjuancarlos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vozjuancarlos
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/VozJuanCarlos
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nPweRRySxxOOfmeK24hX8H3JBgfhVqaUo
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/6v8QaAu3oFX8U94u7lLbii?si=N9VhsaskSVGHzYYMicYnNA
Image Credits
Patricia Laine Nicolás Serrano Cesar Ziegler
