La Jolla Symphony & Chorus recently announced the appointment of Dr. Ruben Valenzuela as its next choral director after a recently concluded nationwide search. Valenzuela is artistic director and conductor of Bach Collegium San Diego, a music performance ensemble he founded in 2003. He also maintains an active career as a guest conductor, keyboardist and musicologist.
“Ruben Valenzuela is a consummate musician with great collaborative energy, deep roots in the community, and a superb artist’s keen insight to all aspects of music-making,” says LJS&C music director Steven Schick. “We are thrilled he’ll be joining us as choral director.”
Valenzuela has led Bach Collegium in local premieres of historically informed performances of music of the Renaissance, early and high Baroque, and Classical periods. Under his leadership, the choral and instrumental ensemble has achieved local, national and international acclaim. He frequently appears as a guest director and performer with ensembles such as Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New York City, the Bach Experience at Marsh Chapel at Boston University, and Emmanuel Music in Boston. He also serves as director of music and organist at All Souls’ Episcopal Church in San Diego. Valenzuela holds a Ph.D. in musicology from Claremont Graduate University.
“I’m thrilled to work alongside Maestro Steven Schick and the entire La Jolla Symphony and Chorus community in shaping the future of this organization,” says Valenzuela. “Additionally, I’m looking forward to diving into the unique programming tradition of La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and keeping excellence at the forefront as we forge ahead!”
Valenzuela will begin his tenure with LJS&C on July 1. As choral director, he will be responsible for preparing the chorus for the organization’s subscription series, leading concerts of choral music at community venues, and sharing conducting duties with Schick.
The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, San Diego’s oldest and largest community orchestra and chorus, is a nonprofit musical performing group offering San Diego a classical music alternative. Its 90-person orchestra and 110-person chorus perform groundbreaking orchestral and choral music alongside traditional favorites from the classical repertoire. During the 64th season, music director Schick leads the ensemble in music by Florence Price, Bernstein, Beethoven, Philip Glass, Stravinsky, Ives and more. Founded in 1954, LJS&C has been an affiliate of UC San Diego since 1967.
