Congratulations to our 2024 Billy Strayhorn Jazz Education Scholarship Award Recipient From The Litchfield Jazz Camp Esteban Ruiz.

Esteban is a 17 year old bassist from Reading, Pennsylvania. He will be a senior this year at Exeter high school in Reading. Esteban will be playing in his school jazz band going into the 24-25 school year at Exeter. Some of the colleges he is looking at to further his jazz music studies are Temple, Duquesne, NYU, Julliard, New England Conservatory, and the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. Some of his bass playing influences include Eddie Gomez, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Reggie Workman and Jaco Pastorious. Words from Litchfield Jazz Camp Director Albert Rivera about Esteban: “I met Esteban a couple of years back while at the Berks Jazz Festival during some of the education clinics. Such a talented, humble and great kid. He blew me away when I heard him. And he is an amazing musician on various instruments. Violin and guitar. Bass is his main instrument. I couldn’t be happier to recommend him.”

We could not be happier to recognize Esteban as a rising star student and musician. We wish him continued success and look forward to hearing more in the future about this talented performer!