Ruben Valenzuela Music Director, Bach Collegium San Diego Ruben Valenzuela remembers, “I was six years old when I realized that music was in my life to stay. I heard my local church choir sing portions of Handel's messiah – in Spanish! I remember hearing the Hallelujah Chorus and stopping dead in my tracks.” Ruben has since distinguished himself as a conductor, organist, harpsichordist, continuo player and scholar. He is the founder and music director of Bach Collegium San Diego which has been influential in enriching the San Diego music community with music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras. He is the Director of Music and Organist of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Del Mar and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Musicology and Historical Performance Practices at Claremont Graduate University .