Rafael Ruiz has established himself as “one of the most important Brazilian pianists of his generation” (Jornal Estado de Minas, 2018). Winner of the special prize “Hors Concours” in the XXV Souza Lima National Piano Competition, he has won numerous other prizes, including the ‘Antena 2’ Prize, during the XXII SIPO in Portugal; and first prize at the I Federal University of Rio de Janeiro National Piano Competition. Rafael Ruiz is an ABRSM Scholarship recipient at the Royal College of Music, in London, where he is completing the Master of Music in Performance, under the supervision of professors Ian Jones and Sofya Gulyak.
In 2020, he was awarded an RCM Scholarship to continue to study for an Artist Diploma. Rafael obtained his Bachelor of Music with distinction at the Rio de Janeiro Federal University under the guidance of professor Luiz Senise. He has participated in masterclasses led by pianists such as Boris Berman, Paul Badura-Skoda, Nikolai Lugansky, Josep Colom, Björn Lehmann and others.
He has given recitals broadcast live by the Brazilian MEC FM radio station, the Portuguese radio station Antena 2, and has recorded for several Brazilian TV programs. Rafael Ruiz has performed as a soloist with orchestras in Brazil and United Kingdom, such as Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Chamber Orchestra and Royal College of Music Ensemble.