EDICSON RUIZ

double bass

LIU KOTOW

Biography

Born in Caracas in 1985, Edicson Ruiz decided to play the bass when he was just eleven years old. His first teacher and mentor Felix Petit guided him through his studies in "El Sistema", the Venezuelan national youth orchestra foundation founded by José Antonio Abreu.

At the age of 15, Edicson Ruiz took 1st Prize at the International Society of Bassist Competition in Indianapolis, USA. In 2001 became the youngest member of the history of Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, where he studied with Prof. Klaus Stoll. After one Month, Edicson Ruiz won a job at the Berlin Philharmonic for a whole life term.

Edicson Ruiz is one of most successful bass soloists of the present time, and his virtuosity impresses audiences the world over. He is a regular guest at festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, the Lucerne Festival, and the Warsaw Chopin Festival, and has performed as soloist in major metropolises such as Rome, Warsaw, Edinburgh, Budapest, New York, Montreal, Berlin, Vienna, Tokyo, Madrid, Lisbon, Zürich, Johannesburg, Paris, Stockholm, Russia, Hong Kong, Brisbane, Mexico City, Taiwan Finland, Sweden.

He has premiered numerous works written for him by world-well-known composers such as Heinz Holliger, Rudolf Kelterborn, Georg Friedrich Haas, Paul Desenne, Efrain Oscher, Dai Fujikura, Toshio Hosokawa and Roland Moser. 

His chamber music activities have led him to close relationships with Anner Bylsma, György Kurtág, Heinz Holliger, Elliott Carter, Maurice Bourgue, Klaus Thunemann, Sabine Meyer, Yuri Bashmet, Christian Tetzlaff, Thomas Zehetmair, Gidon Kremer, Lars Vogt, Vilde Frang, Jörg Widmann and Alban Gerhardt.

Edicson Ruiz gives Masterclass all over the World at Manhattan School of Music, Los Angeles University, Colburn Los Angeles, Tokyo University of Arts, Queensland Conservatory of Music, McGill University of Montreal, Hongkong University, Griechische Akademie der Kuenste, Roma Academia Santa Cecilia, Conservatorio di Napoli Pietro a Majella, Mexiko Teatro Bellas Artes, Boston University, New England Conservatory, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Mozarteum Salzburg.

Edicson Ruiz has recorded numerous CDs with Phil.Harmonie, which emphasize his passion for the music of the 18th century as well as modern and contemporary music. International television and radio broadcasts and productions with WDR, ARTE, Film & Arts, ZDF, Deutsche Grammophon, Deutsche Welle, NHK Japan, RBB, RAI, witness to his versatile achievements. 

He was granted the "José Felix Ribas Prize" in 2002 for his service to art and culture by the Venezuelan Government as well as being Recipient of "The Golden Bow Prize" 2012 by the Brienz Violinmaker School in Brienz, Switzerland.

Ruiz is currently Guest Professor at the Fachhochschule des Nordenschweiz in Basel, Switzerland since 2018.