"​I WOULD TEACH CHILDREN MUSIC, PHYSICS, AND PHILOSOPHY; BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY MUSIC, FOR THE PATTERNS IN MUSIC AND ALL THE ARTS ARE THE KEYS TO LEARNING."

DR. PHILIP RUIZ - DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

​Philip Ruiz is the current director of bands at Diamond Ranch High School, in Pomona California, where he teaches jazz, guitar, marching band, wind ensemble, concert band, string orchestra, symphony orchestra and colorguard. He has also held the position of department chair for the visual and performing arts department since 2014.  
 
In addition to his teaching duties, he adjudicates for the School Band and Orchestra Association and has presented to the school board on numerous occasions regarding the different concepts and issues surrounding music education. Previous positions include adjunct professor at Cal Poly Pomona teaching Secondary Instrumental Techniques and director of bands at Servite High School in Anaheim, California. He is currently in his twentieth year of teaching in the secondary classroom where his groups continue to earn numerous awards in marching contests and superior ratings at both district and state festivals.  
 
Mr. Ruiz earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music from California Polytechnic University, Pomona and a Masters in Musicology from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California.  He is currently attending Claremont Graduate University, where he is ABD and in the final stages of completing his doctorate of music with a focus in musicology.  His dissertation focuses on the social development of the new instrumental music director and is the recipient of the prestigious Walker/Parker Memorial Endowment Fellowship
 
Mr. Ruiz has been honored by Who’s Who Among American Teachers, as Diamond Ranch High School’s Teacher of the Month and a nominee for Disney’s Music Educator of the year.  He is a current member of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association, National Association for Music Education, California Band Director Association, California Teacher Association and National Education Association.