ABOUT RUBEN
Dr. Ruben Balboa is a violist, educator, and conductor recognized by the American Viola Society as an Emerging Artist (2021) and Emerging Teacher (2022). He is Assistant Professor of Viola/Violin and String Music Education at Wichita State University.
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Before joining WSU, Dr. Balboa held faculty positions at The University of Texas at Austin, Illinois State University, Texas State University, and Southwestern University. At UT Austin, he served as Lecturer of Viola and Assistant Director of the UT String Project, where he mentored students from undergraduate through doctoral levels and coordinated all aspects of the program. His university teaching includes Applied Viola and Violin, Chamber Music, Orchestral Conducting, String Pedagogy, and String Methods. He has conducted university and youth orchestras and served as a guest conductor for All-Region ensembles. In 2025, he was named a National Finalist for The American Prize in Orchestral Conducting (college/university division).
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Dr. Balboa has presented at national conferences including American String Teachers Association (ASTA), the American Viola Society Festival and International Conference, and the National String Project Consortium's Best Practices Sessions. His teaching spans university, public school, summer festivals, and community programs. He has worked with the Austin Chamber Music Center, Austin Youth Orchestra, Texas State ViolaFest, Austin Soundwaves, Longhorn String Camp, and Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Symphony Camp. He served on a Texas Orchestra Directors Association committee to increase collegiate involvement and has held leadership roles with the American Viola Society (AVS): Chair of the Education and Senior Solo Competition Committees, Co-Chair of the Access, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, and member of the Communication Committee. His adjudication includes the 2024 Primrose International Viola Competition, 2023 Coltman Chamber Music Competition (Junior Division), and 2021 AVS Youth Competition (Senior Division).
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As a performer, Dr. Balboa has appeared in solo and chamber settings across diverse venues and styles. He has performed with The Dallas Opera, Austin Symphony, Amarillo Symphony, and Austin Opera. His chamber appearances include Austin Camerata, the Austin Chamber Music Festival, the “Beerthoven” Concert Series, and Candlelight Concerts, where he served as core violist. Dr. Balboa’s dedication to chamber music has been recognized with top honors at the 2020 Coltman Chamber Music Competition, where his ensemble was awarded both the Grand Prize and First Place. He has collaborated with artists including the Miró Quartet, Anton Nel, Sandy Yamamoto, Invoke, Lindsey Stirling, Evanescence, Josh Groban, and Sarah Brightman.
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Dr. Balboa frequently performs in a duo with his wife, soprano Dr. Samantha Balboa, focusing on repertoire for viola, voice, and piano. Their collaborative work inspired his doctoral research, Musical Poetry: An Examination of Works and Texts by Charles Martin Loeffler and Paul Verlaine, and reflects their shared commitment to artistic exploration and audience engagement.