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Fernando Malvar-Ruiz
Grammy Award-winner Fernando Malvar‑Ruiz serves as artistic director of Los Angeles Children’s Chorus (LACC), one of the nation’s premier youth choral organizations. An internationally sought-after conductor, pedagogue and expert in the adolescent voice, he brings more than two decades of experience shaping young singers for the world’s most prestigious stages.
Prior to his appointment at LACC in 2018, Malvar‑Ruiz served for 17 years with the renowned American Boychoir, including 13 years as artistic director. Under his leadership, the ensemble toured internationally, collaborated with world-class orchestras—including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic—and performed under the batons of conductors such as Pierre Boulez, James Levine and Marin Alsop. His credits also include work with soloists Yo‑Yo Ma, Paul McCartney and Beyoncé, as well as appearances at the Academy Awards and a globally broadcast 9/11 memorial.
A native of Spain with Galician roots, Malvar‑Ruiz studied piano and theory at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música in Madrid, earned Kodály certification in Hungary, and holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Ohio State University. He has conducted and taught across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and was recently honored with a Grammy Award for his work on Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand (Symphony No. 8) with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel.
His collaborations with LA Opera include preparing the Los Angeles Children's Chorus for their appearances in productions of Hansel and Gretel (2018), El Gato Montés (2019), La Bohème (2019 and 2025), St. Matthew Passion (2022), Tosca (2022), Otello (2023) and Turandot (2024).
Malvar‑Ruiz is passionate about artistic excellence, music education, and using the transformative power of choral music to connect young voices with the world.
Prior to his appointment at LACC in 2018, Malvar‑Ruiz served for 17 years with the renowned American Boychoir, including 13 years as artistic director. Under his leadership, the ensemble toured internationally, collaborated with world-class orchestras—including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Berlin Philharmonic—and performed under the batons of conductors such as Pierre Boulez, James Levine and Marin Alsop. His credits also include work with soloists Yo‑Yo Ma, Paul McCartney and Beyoncé, as well as appearances at the Academy Awards and a globally broadcast 9/11 memorial.
A native of Spain with Galician roots, Malvar‑Ruiz studied piano and theory at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Música in Madrid, earned Kodály certification in Hungary, and holds a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Ohio State University. He has conducted and taught across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and was recently honored with a Grammy Award for his work on Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand (Symphony No. 8) with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel.
His collaborations with LA Opera include preparing the Los Angeles Children's Chorus for their appearances in productions of Hansel and Gretel (2018), El Gato Montés (2019), La Bohème (2019 and 2025), St. Matthew Passion (2022), Tosca (2022), Otello (2023) and Turandot (2024).
Malvar‑Ruiz is passionate about artistic excellence, music education, and using the transformative power of choral music to connect young voices with the world.