Source: Faculty Update

On June 28th, The 2024 Summer Season Global Music® Awards––an international top-tier music competition which honors talented musicians from around the world––announced their winners! Produced and Recorded by Dr. José Valentino Ruiz, Assistant Professor of Music Business & Entrepreneurship, the following albums received awards in their respective categories including the prestigious Award of Excellence® Gold Medal:

  1. Award of Excellence® Gold Medal for Instrumental Album: "Claude Bolling Goes Latin: Suite for Flute & Latin Music Ensemble" by Carlomagno Araya and José Valentino
  2. Outstanding Achievement® Silver Medal Award for Latin Jazz Album: "Big Band Brazil" by Hendrik Meurkens and Carlomagno Araya & CCCN Jazz Orchestra featuring Paquito D'Rivera, José Valentino, & Friends
  3. Outstanding Achievement® Silver Medal Award for Instrumentalist (Classical Marimba Album) for "The Way of Wood and Water" by Derris Lee. Produced by Kenneth Broadway, Clyde Connor, and José Valentino.
  4. Bronze Medal® Award for Andean-Americana Folk Album for"Avantguardia" by Bújo Azul (a collaboration between UF's Music Business & Entrepreneurship Program & FAU's Commercial Music Program).
  5. Bronze Medal® Award for Latin Children's Music Album for "En Busca del Gramm Dorado" by Sophia Canta. Produced by Vladimir Suarez A and José Valentino.
  6. Bronze Medal® Award for Band Category for "Falar Abobrinha" by O Som Do Jazz
  7. Bronze Medal® Award for Composition for "Cara de Pau" by O Som Do Jazz

Dr. Ruiz served as lead producer, executive producer, album marketing director, flutist, saxophonist, bassist, composer, and audio engineer for these albums. The additional following UF faculty and students were recognized with awards for their various contributions: Dr. Kenneth Broadway (producer), Prof. Clyde Connor (producer), Dr. Silviu Ciulei (guitarist), Dr. Alexander Pershounin (double bassist), Dr. Thaddaeus Bourne (associate producer), doctoral students Denis Vasenin (digital media specialist), Corey Burton (trombonist), Ana Galdavadze (violinist), June Xu (violist), Chris Shelton (engineer), and master's student Derris Lee (marimbist).