Rubén Acuña González is a versatile percussionist committed to growing as a collaborative musician while contributing to performances that connect with audiences in meaningful, lasting ways.

Rubén is currently a third-year Master of Music student at the Curtis Institute of Music studying Timpani and Percussion. Rubén was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and raised in Houston, Texas, where his early musical experiences sparked a lasting commitment to this art form. 

Rubén earned his Bachelor of Music in Performance, along with a minor in Arts Management and Administration, from the University of Texas at Austin. 

His time as a student at UT Austin shaped not only his technical and artistic vision, but also his interest in how music can build communities and create meaningful shared experiences.

Rubén has been fortunate to study with inspiring teachers and mentors who have deeply influenced his growth as a musician, including Thomas Burritt, Ivan Trevino, Tony Edwards, Don Liuzzi, Ji Su Jung, Eric Millstein, and Robert Van Sice.

Their guidance has helped Rubén refine his approach to musical performance, develop a strong artistic voice, and deepen his understanding of collaboration.

Beyond the concert hall, he has also been involved in the marching arts, performing with the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 2021. 

This experience strengthened his discipline, ensemble awareness, and appreciation for the physical and expressive demands of percussion performance. 

Rubén is also a member of the Austin Percussion Collective, where he collaborates with previous and current percussionists from the Austin area to present chamber percussion concerts within the greater Austin community.

During his time at Curtis, Rubén had the privilege of performing with renowned conductors such as Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Teddy Abrams, Osmo Vanska, Nicholas McGegan, Vimbayi Kaziboni, and Marc Lowenstein. 

He has also had the privilege of working closely with composers such as Amy Beth Kirsten, Jessie Montgomery, Nick DiBerardino, Alistair Coleman, Gabriela Ortiz, and David Ludwig, whose collaborations shaped and reinforced the importance of thoughtful performance.

Additionally, he had the opportunity to perform alongside world-class artists such as Yuja Wang, Teddy Abrams, Gabriel Globus-Hoenich, Nathan Farrington, Time for Three, Imani Winds, and Eighth Blackbird, which have been both formative and inspiring experiences.

Most recently, Rubén was appointed Principal Timpanist of Symphony in C in Haddonfield, New Jersey, where he performs regularly throughout the season. Rubén seeks to create impactful performances that inspire and make a meaningful difference in local and global communities.