Ramon Ballve

Ramón Jorge Ballvé, born in La Plata, Argentina, completed his classical piano training at the Conservatorio Nacional de la Provincia de Buenos Aires and Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires. At the age of 16, he emigrated to the United States with his family, where he eventually made Virginia his home.

Ballvé, a fine soloist, has performed with his own bands, most recently at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, where he appears annually for their jazz concert series. He was honored to play with members of the National Symphony (Ulysses S. James, conductor) at the Kennedy Center for the National Concert Party, 1996. Ballvé has also performed with many other notable entertainers, including Ritchie Cole, Mel Tormé, Joey Heatherton, David Brenner, Lionel Hampton, Tex Benneke, and Mark Russell. His repertoire spans classical, jazz, Dixieland, popular, and show music, as well as the music of his native South America: tangos and latin rhythms. Mr. Ballvé has done speaking and concert engagements on his native Argentine music for Federal City College and the Argentine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

In addition to his performing talents, Ballvé composed three award-winning film scores, which were commissioned by the International Communications Agency for its films of Voyager I and II, and the first thrilling Columbia space shuttle flight. He was also commissioned by the National Academy of Sciences to compose the film score for the Transportation Research Board’s film, ‘History of Transportation.’ More recently, Ballvé wrote the musical arrangements and performed with his band on Mark Russell’s recent CDs, ‘I’ve Got a Right to Sing the News’ (1992), and ‘Looney Toons & Well-Aimed Harpoons’ (1994). Ballvé can also be heard on ‘Real Live Jazz,’ which was released at Blues Alley in 2000.

Ballvé’s solo appearances include: the 1993 Mount Hood Jazz Festival, the Republican Senatorial Committee, the Democratic National Committee, the 1996 Presidential Inaugural receptions at the Hay-Adams Hotel, the National Association of elementary School Principals annual Awards at the State Department, the Phillips collection ‘Piano in Washington’ series, and the Mississippi Bankers Association Annual Reception in the Russell Senate building.