2023 recipient

Ofelia Ruiz-Alonso

Ofelia is a violist and an Alexander Technique teacher based in Tijuana, Mexico.

As an Alexander teacher, she is both an active member of the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT), and the Mexican Association of Alexander Technique Teachers (APTAM).

She trained under Ann Rodiger in NYC, whose Alexander Technique lineage traces back through Joan and Alex Murray, to Walter Carrington, to F. M. Alexander himself, founder of the Technique.

Ofelia underwent the Alexander Technique - Performing Artists Teacher Training at the Balance Arts Center (2022–2025), with both the generous support of the Judith Leibowitz Scholarship Fund and the Balance Arts Center Scholarship.

As an AT teacher, she has been a regular guest speaker at the Balance Arts Center Global Virtual Conferences, hosted every Spring and Fall semester in NYC. Additionally, she taught an AT workshop along with Abbe Krieger at the New York Flute Fair 2025. Ofelia is also very excited to be a guest teacher at the upcoming Altalena Music Festival 2026 in Italy.

As a violist, she has toured extensively around Mexico and the US with prominent ensembles, including the Orquesta de Baja California. Ofelia has also shared the stage with many world-class artists such as Andrea Bocelli, and has taken masterclasses with members of the Kronos Quartet. She feels fortunate to play a 2021 viola built for her by Claudia Reynoso, one of Mexico's most prominent luthiers.

Ofelia holds two degrees in viola performance, a Bachelor of Music from the Autonomous University of Baja California (2015) under the guidance of Ara Ghukasyan, and a Master of Music from San Diego State University (2018) under the tutelage of Chi-Yuan Chen.