Cristiana Catina DeLuna Ruiz

A Brazilian vocalist, pianist, composer and music educator, Catina DeLuna has enjoyed a successful and varied musical career from a young age. She received a B.A. in Brazilian Popular Music at the prestigious UNICAMP University in São Paulo and a M.M.A in Music at Northern Illinois University where she was awarded a grant from the Center for Latino and Latin American Studies. After graduating at NIU, Catina became a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Society. Additionally, she served as a visiting scholar at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Catina DeLuna performs in the top jazz venues in the United States co-leading the Group “Lado B Brazilian Project”, whose debut album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2016. She also founded and developed two award winning musical groups in Brazil. Additionally, Mrs. DeLuna has also been a guest artist on international stages. Now living in Los Angeles, CA, Catina also teaches music in her private studio in Santa Clarita, as well as in several renowned schools and conservatories including Silverlake Conservatory of Music, University of Southern California (guest faculty), and Los Angeles College of Music, or LACM (guest faculty). With almost 30 years of experience, Mrs. DeLuna's unique teaching approach reflects the mix of proper classical technique (European style), so frequently overlooked, with lots of encouragement and motivation towards a true creative process that allows her students to achieve incredible results. AWARDS, HIGHLIGHTS & HONORS - Contributor in "The Musician's Lifeline" book by Peter Erskine and Dave Black. - GRAMMY AWARD NOMINATION with her debut album "Catina DeLuna & Lado B Brazilian Project featuring Otmaro Ruiz". - Member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Society.  -Grant recipient: Center for Latino and Latin American Studies at NIU to carry out research on maracatu in Brazil.    -Visiting Scholar School of Music, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.  -Serenata Brasileira Group: award from the Linguistic Academy of Campinas for outstanding cultural contribution. -Carlos Gomes Medal for excellence in cultural contribution to the city of Campinas.  - Arirê Finalist for the XII Sharp Prize for the recording of “Arirê”, self-titled album.