Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruby Ortiz.
Hi Ruby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Ruby. I’m a non-binary Puerto Rican violist from Houston, Texas, and the Executive Director of the Houston Pride Orchestra. For the last five-ish years, this ensemble has been a passing thought in my mind – a daydream I kept waiting for someone else to create. I saw the deserved success of the Houston Pride Band and Pride Chorus Houston and wondered if anyone would be interested in a Pride Orchestra.
In 2024, I saw an ad on social media for the International Pride Orchestra, an ensemble that brings queer and ally musicians from around the world together for a week of rehearsals culminating in a beautiful performance. That first year, I psyched myself out and missed the audition window. Like a lot of musicians – and queer folks – I struggle with imposter syndrome and couldn’t imagine that such a magical ensemble would accept me.
In 2025, some of my private students were auditioning for Region, All-State, Solo & Ensemble, and youth orchestras. I told myself that if I expected my students to do the hard thing and audition for big opportunities, I should be doing the same. I sent off my audition fully expecting a rejection email that I could turn into a teachable moment about handling disappointment in a mature manner.
Instead, to my complete shock, I made it in. The week I spent with the International Pride Orchestra during World Pride 2025 changed my life. It showed me the kind of community I had never experienced as a queer musician in Texas, and I realized that the orchestra I’d been waiting for someone else to create was something I needed to help start.
Our first performance was a complete success. We had a packed audience, around 60 musicians on stage, and two conductors. The response afterwards was incredible! Dozens of musicians reached out to join us, and we had almost 40 brand new auditions to join the orchestra. Now, we have over 80 musicians enrolled with the Houston Pride Orchestra who we will cycle through for this upcoming season. We are looking forward to upcoming collaborations with Pride Chorus Houston and Katy Pride Festival, and are busy preparing our repertoire for our October 11th Hispanic Heritage concert!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In some ways, HPO has come about very easily – the personnel is fun, talented, and always willing to work hard or volunteer. Our venues have been kind and generous, and we have found so much community and new family all over Houston! But unfortunately, as any arts organization in 2026 can tell you, we are facing significant financial struggle. We haven’t received any funding from anyone aside from our own staff and audience members, and it’s difficult to keep an organization running on fumes. Anyone who is interested in donating to the Houston Pride Orchestra can do so through our website houstonprideorchestra.org.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Houston Pride Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of queer and ally string, brass, woodwind, and percussion musicians. Our mission is to create a safe space for queer and ally musicians to flourish in a professional ensemble without fear of persecution, and to provide an outlet and community for our musicians and audience members in the Houston area. We follow in the footsteps of the Houston Pride Band, who is about to celebrate their 50th birthday, and the Pride Chorus Houston, who has been making incredible music in Houston since 1979. Within these two incredible Pride organizations, there was no place for queer string players or orchestral repertoire, thus the need for the Houston Pride Orchestra. We pride ourselves in our kindness – “leading from the light” as our lovely Artistic Director Dr. Kenneth Cox states – and our overall resourcefulness and dedication to the orchestra.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For anyone who thinks they can do this alone – you might be able to, but life is so much easier with people in your corner, fighting the same fight as you. Talk to other leaders in your industry who have the same goals in their organization as you do, and share ideas and thoughts back and forth. Leaders are community builders, and we need to work together to make a change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://houstonprideorchestra.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houstonprideorchestra/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Houston-Pride-Orchestra-61584478056114/
