Hailing from Puerto Rico, flutist Gabriel Cruz-Ruiz is a frequent prize-winner, soloist, and international collaborator. He is currently a student of flute performance and chemistry on full-scholarship at the prestigious Oberlin College and Conservatory under the tutelage of Alexa Still. In 2021, Gabriel was the first prize winner of the National Flute Association’s Francis Blaisdell Scholarship Competition, the second place winner of the Kansas Flute society competition, the third place winner of the San Francisco Flute Society International Competition, and was selected as a mentee of the N.F.A. 's Young Artist Mentorship Program. Furthermore, he has been awarded first prize winner of the N.F.A. First Generation Scholarship Competition in 2020, finalist of the British Flute Society Young Artist Competition and New York Flute Club Young Artist Competitions, and in 2018, he was both a winner of the Dr. Martin Luther King scholarship which sponsored his travel to Vienna.