In 1986, in conjunction with his performing career, Otmaro joins one of the most important TV & Radio Jingle production companies, "Musica & Letra", which would become a very important ingredient in his development as a composer, arranger and producer. His association with the company lasted for three years, three years of DAILY recordings, until Otmaro decided it was time to move on and set new professional goals.

In 1989, with a partial financial aid from the Ministry of Culture (CONAC), he moves to Los Angeles, California, where he culminates his academic training at the California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS), obtaining a Master Degree in Jazz Performance (1993).

While in CALARTS, Otmaro had the opportunity to perform and interact with many visiting artists however, it was his association with Alex Acuna that introduced him to the very selected circle of musicians in Los Angeles. Since 1991, Otmaro Ruiz takes part in the most diverse musical situations, always of the greatest quality (check Artist List at the bottom), ranging from straight-ahead jazz to Pop-Rock, from authentic Salsa & Afro-Cuban to the most exciting Fusion, always keeping versatility as his main focus, not as a financial strategy, but out of the true love and respect he feels for all styles of music to which he has been exposed.

>John McLaughlin "The Heart of Things" Tour (Europe, Fall 98)

>Steve Winwood "Latin Crossings Tour" with Tito Puente and Arturo Sandoval

>Gino Vannelli’s "Yonder Tree" World Tour

>Member of Robbie Robertson's Red Road Ensemble (U.S.A. and European Tour  1995 as performer and programmer)

>Dianne Reeves

>Arturo Sandoval (Grammy Award Winner. World Tours and Recordings, ‘Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl Series’ with Los Angeles Philharmonic - Essa Peka Salonen: conductor)

>Herb Alpert ("Passion Dance" Recording and World Tour)

>Jon Anderson (YES lead vocalist. "Deseo" and "Toltec" Projects)

>Alex Acuna and The Unknowns (World Tour, recordings and videos)

>David Weckl (2 DCI videos as a performer and co-writer)

>"Weckl, Patitucci & Stern" DCI
instructional tape

>Frank Gambale's Band (J.V.C. recording artist, Albums, concerts, seminars)

>Art Davis Quintet

>Alain Caron Le Band

>Frank Morgan Quartet (at Catalina’s, Los Angeles, Feb.‘96)

>Ralph Moore’s Quartet

>Boney James' Band

>Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra

>"Jazz Funk a Go-Go" (Joey Heredia)

>Nana Caymmi (U.S. West Coast Tour 96’–Monterey Jazz Festival)

>Dori Caymmi (Grammy Nominee)

>Yoshio Maki

>Hirukuni Korekata

>Hiroyuki Matsuda

>Munyungo Jackson

>Chester Thompson

>Charlie Sepulveda

>Justo Almario
(World Tour and recordings)

>Preston Reeds

>John Jarvis (Grammy Awarded)

>Giovanni Hidalgo (seminars)

>Michele Legrand (GRP project for Arturo Sandoval)

>Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

>"BONGOLOGIC"

>Tony Lujan Latin Jazz Ensemble

>Dave Valentin

>Billy Higgins' Quintet

>Vicky Carr

>Lea Salonga (TONY Award winner)

>Hermeto Pascoal

>Brigitte Nielsen

>Fernando Allende

>Paquito D'Rivera

>Ted Curson

>Nat Adderley

>Eddie Bert

>Thomas Chapin

>Buny Brunnell

>Paloma San Basilio (Spanish version of the musical "EVITA")

>Juan Carlos Quintero (Tours and recordings)

>Luis Bonilla

>Pedro Eustache (concerts and album)

>Paul Hanson's Band ("ASTROBOY's BUES", MIDI Inc. Japan)

>LIPSTICK RECORDS' recording artist Gary Meek (European Tour
1995)

>Cecilia Noel and the Wild Clams
(featuring Tris Imboden from CHICAGO)

>Charles Owen's Quartet

>John Pisano and Velas

>Carlos Villagran (KIKO)

>Nelson Ned

>Ricardo Arjona

>Michaelina

>Mijares

>Jordi

From 1980-89 worked as Pianist, Keyboard performer, Arranger or Musical Director for every major international venezuelan popular music concert artists, such as:

>Jose Luis Rodriguez "EL PUMA"

>Soledad Bravo

>Ilan Chester

>Frank Quintero

>Guillermo Carrasco

>Melissa

>Antonietta

>Karina

>Guillermo Davila

>Aldemaro Romero

>Carlos Mata

>Yordano Di Marzo

>DAIQUIRI

>Colina

>Marita Capote

>Mirtha

>Mirna Rios

>Mirla Castellaños

>Lila Morillo

>POPY

>Balbino

>Jorge Spitery y el grupo Mañana

>Los Cuñaos

>Esperanza Marquez

>Taumanova Alvarez

>Grupo Natura

>Bobby Capo

>Raquel Castaños

>Jorge Barnett

>CHEVERE

>Jorge Aguilar

>DESORDEN PUBLICO

>TOKIO

>20/20

>Ur-Banda

>Robert Valerio

>Maricruz Quintero

>Jesus Sevillano

>Delia

>Luis Conny

>Luz Marina

>Mayra Marti

>Duo ESCARLATA

>Ignacio Izcaray

>Edgar Alexander

>Channel 4 Orchestra (Arnoldo Nally, conduct.)

>Desorden Publico (recent years)

>Caramelos de Cianuro (recent years)

And with most renown local Jazz bands such as:

>"El TRABUCO VENEZOLANO"

>"La SECCION RITMICA de CARACAS"

>"CONTRASTES"

>"LE CARDIU"

>Federico Britos Jazz Quintet, and "JUAN SEBASTIAN BAR" house band

>Victor Cuica's Latin jazz Ensemble, among others

>Roberto Giron

>Alonso Toro

>Maria Rivas

>Mercedes Rios

>Cecilia Bellorin

>Marisela Leal

>Gonzalo Mico

>Pedro Brito

>Jorge Barnett

>Pedro Lopez / Otmaro Ruiz Duo

>Maria Marquez (recent years)

>"Simon Bolivar " University of Caracas, Venezuela. Biological Sciences (1980-83)

>"Institutos Educacionales Asociados" (IEA) Caracas, Venezuela. (1975-80)

>Colegio "Don Romulo Gallegos" Caracas, Venezuela (1967-75)


Musical Studies

JAZZ:
>Master of Fine Arts in Jazz Performance. California Institute of the Arts. May 1993.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Performance

>California Institute of the Arts. May 1991

>Private Tutoring: Prof. Gerry Weill- Harmony and Improvisation (1986);
Prof. Jesus Sanoja-Arranging (1983-86)

THEORY:
>"Juan Manuel Olivares" Conservatory. Caracas, Venezuela. Music
theory- Solfeggio; Harmony I,II,III,IV; Music history; Aesthetics-Analysis.
(1972-81)


Instruments

PIANO:
>California Institute of the Arts. Prof. David Roitstein, Prof.
Bryan Pezzone, Prof. Vicky Ray (1989-93)

>"Juan Manuel Olivares" Conservatory. Prof. Atilio Ferraro, (1974-79)

>Private Tutoring: Prof. Terry Trotter, Prof. Gerry Weill, Prof Olegario Diaz,
Prof. Christina Assai

CLASSICAL ORGAN:
>Private Tutoring: Prof. Jose Penin, Prof. Guillermo Vrvicky, Prof. Jaime Flores (1975-79)

CLASSICAL GUITAR:
>"Juan Manuel Olivares" Conservatory. Prof. Jose Maria Verdu (1974-83)

>Private Tutoring: Prof. Romulo Lazarde (1977)

(1986-89). As a keyboard performer: Daily (since 1984) recording of Jingles (for Coca-cola, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Mennen and many others leading products) and Film soundtracks. (Film Soundtrack credits as Composer-Producer include : "California Mith" directed by Michell Katz, "On seeing the Perfect Girl, One Morning Of April" by Carolyn Chen, Weston Woods Studios Children releases "Chato And The Party Animals" and "The Pot That Juan Built", "El Cuento De Lo Que Quisiera y No Quisiera Tener..."by Ricardo Barahona, award winning documentary "Voces de los Orichas" by Alvaro P?rez, "Unas son de amor..." by Haydee Ascanio, experimental animation films by Isabel Herguera and Ricardo Barahona. Albums with major Venezuelan & American Pop, Jazz and Rock artists, and TV stations orchestras.

Teaching Experience

Jazz Improv & Jazz Piano Masterclasses at the French Polynesia Conservatory of Arts (Papeete, Tahiti), at the Escuela Musicale Pescarense (Pescara, Italy), CALARTS, USC, Cal State Northridge, Cal State Pomona, Universidad Javeriana (Bogota, Colombia) and at the National Library (Caracas, Venezuela). Keyboard Instructor at Pasadena International Music Academy (P.I.M.A.), Keyboard Theory Instructor at Los Angeles Music Academy (L.A.M.A.), Advanced Jazz Piano instructor at "Plaza de la Raza" Community Arts Partnership program, Teacher Assistant (CALARTS), Instructor in several seminars at Musicians Institute, Performed in seminar "X-3" for KORG Musical Instruments as well as Concert/Clinics for The THELONIOUS MONK Institute (hosted by Peter Erskine) and for GENERALMUSIC Corp. at N.A.M.M. shows, MUSIK MESSE (Frankfurt, Germany) and Paris MUSICMANIA.

Awards

In 2000, Otmaro was awarded a Grammy certificate for his participation on Dianne Reeve's "In The Moment - Live in Concert", and collaborated as co-writter / performer in Alex Acuña's Grammy nominated release "Acuarela de Tambores" in that same year. His work as a composer for the "Weston Woods Studios" childrenrelease "Chato and The Party Animals" was awarded the "2004 Audie Awards", a CINE Golden Eagle and the Bronze Remi at the 2004 Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival.Special Award form the Venezuelan National Artist’s Institute (for outstanding career in a foreign country) in 1998, International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) Recognition Diploma (1992); Miami International Jazz Festival Showcase / Best Jazz Ensemble- trio (1989) Florida, USA; 2 ANDA (National Association of Advertising Companies) awards for TV Jingles: ASOCON General Motors (1986) and BROWN COLA (1987) Caracas, Venezuela; 1st. Prize (Semi- pro, Junior and Children categories) YAMAHA National Electronic Organ Contest (1978,1977 and 1976, respectively), 3rd. Prize children category (1975) Caracas, Venezuela; 2nd. Prize in the "1st. Freedom Song Festival" as a composer (1979) Caracas, Venezuela.

Other Skills

>Music sight-reading.

>Acting Technique: Prof. Brett Thacher- Meisner Technique; Dianna Jellinek-Voice & Speach; Carrie Dobro-Scene Study (The Acting Corps, North Hollywood, CA, USA); Prof. Eric Stone (Coaching - CA, USA), Prof. Guillermo Diaz Yuma (Venezuela): appeared in Music Video Clips, TV Commercials, Stage Theater Plays and Movies.

>Experience as a back-up vocalist

>Artistic Drawing: Prof. Moravia Rojas

>Languages: Spanish, English and notions of Portuguese and Japanese