2023 recipient

Aldo Ruiz-Alonso

Aldo is a violist, composer, teacher and Alexander Technique trainee at Balance Arts Center. As a violist, he has toured extensively around Mexico and California with prominent professional ensembles, including the Orquesta de Baja California, of which he was a member before moving to NYC for his AT studies. He has also shared the stage with diverse artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Plácido Domingo, Mariachi Sol de México, Mijares, and members of the Hausmann and Formosa quartets. One of the highlights of his musical career was participating in a masterclass with David Harrington, in which he and his quartet performed a piece from the Kronos Quartet’s 50 for the Future project. Some creative personal accomplishments include his transcription and orchestration of the music of Super Metroid for the 2019 8-Bit Symphony, and the 2022 Mexican premier of his improvisatory solo piece Ludus. 

It was Aldo’s great honor to perform the American premier of Mexican composer Santos Cota’s “Two Pieces for Viola and Piano” with the composer at the piano. He also played the San Diego premier of Mansurian’s Requiem with Musica Vitale, and served as principal violist for the San Diego City Ballet. 

Aldo has worked as a violin and viola teacher and chamber music coach at prestigious institutions in Tijuana such as Centro de Artes Musicales, and at Nguyen Music Studio and Studio Vivo in San Diego. His philosophy towards teaching is based in experimentation and creative problem solving. 

Through studying at the Balance Arts Center, Aldo has experienced how the process of Alexander technique continues to refresh his relationship with himself, his activities, and his interactions with other people.