Juan Cruz
I consider Baum's Music to be the best Music School for all ages in the State. Although Baum’s Music is not an official academic institution, I strongly believe that it provides infinite opportunities for anybody interested in Music Education. It holds a warm familial atmosphere with a strong connection and dedication to New Mexico's community."
- Juan Cruz 2005
Originally from Guatemala, Juan Cruz moved to the United States during the early 1980's. During this transition, he learned that through music, he was able to
not experience the common feelings of "home" becoming increasingly abstract. Through this realization, his mother's encouragement and love for the
instrument; he began his study of the saxophone. He received his high school education from the School of Creative and Performing Arts in San Diego, California. Upon graduation, he was awarded a scholarship which permitted him to further his education. He went on to study music at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Through Hampshire's unique academic program, he was given to opportunity to hybrid his musical education with the academic programs of Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts. This unique academic network, gave him the opportunity to study (and eventually record and perform) with Dr. Yusef Lateef and Archie Shepp. These artistic pioneers work had already been Juan's central forces of inspiration and proof of voices within the rubble of emulation. At Hampshire College, he also studied with master flautist Margo Simmons Edwards. Her ability to create a seamless metamorphosis of texture within sonic fabric inspired and fueled his research in his areas of interest such as theoretical applications for musical composition, musical acoustics and instrumental construction.
Juan holds a B.A. degree in Music Education from Hampshire College and a master’s degree in Composition/Performance from the University of Massachusetts. Juan is a member of Dr. Yusef Lateef's Quartet "Until Before". Juan Cruz currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife and their one year old son.
Recommendations for Juan Cruz:
Letter of recommendation from Dr. Yusef Lateef:
"Juan Cruz possesses a wonderful sense of imagination and sensitivity and brings an original concept to everything he does."
Archie Shepp, 2002
"Juan has a unique ability to orchestrate instruments. He has a personal, comprehensive method of composing. Another aspect of his ability is that he
consistently exhibits, during performances, the skills of a virtuoso, like no one else that I have ever heard."
- Yusef A. Lateef, 1998