CREDENTIALS – Biographical Sketch
Ruben Malán was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, in May 15, l947 into a family with strong musical traditions for many generation. At age eight, Malán begins his formal music studies under the direction of Santiago Baranda Reyes, at the Johan Sebastian Bach private Conservatory. At age fifteen, launched his performance career, presenting many recitals sponsored by the internationally famous Juventudes Musicales (Musical Youths Institute) with headquarters in Belgium. 
After a despotic military regime closed the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (Montevideo) where he studied for two years, Dr. Malan was compelled to leave his country as a young adult and move to San Juan Puerto Rico, following his mentor, the prestigious Uruguayan composer Héctor Tosar (Héctor Tosar_Sul re für Klavier, 1981 – YouTube; Héctor Tosar – 6 Canciones – YouTube ) Being deprived of his position, dean of the banned National Conservatory, Tosar was invited by Pablo Casals to serve as a new dean of the Conservatory of the Festival Casals in San Juan Puerto Rico.
In 1975, Dr, Malán continued his piano studies with Jesús Maria Sanromá, and his music education with Nelly Justicia at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico where, in 1980, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in piano and music education. Graduating with honors, he earned a medal from UNESCO in acknowledgment of his talent and dedication. That same year, Dr. Malán joined the faculty teaching piano, keyboard-harmony, and improvisation.
In 1987, with the goal of pursuing a Master’s degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Leonidas Lipovetsky, Dr. Malán moved to Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. In recognition of his significant accomplishments at the Florida State University College of Music he was awarded with the Florida State Graduate Fellowship and later with an M. M. degree in piano performance with additional studies in piano pedagogy and jazz. Dr. Malán and his family remained in Tallahassee while he pursued his Doctoral degree, which he earned in 1999.
Dr. Malán founded his own piano and keyboard studio in 1993, and has earned a well-deserved reputation providing quality instruction to the Tallahassee community for almost 20 years. After serving two years as president of The Tallahassee Music Teachers Association, Malán remains an active member and currently serves as its Secretary.
Tallahassee, October 30, 2012.
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