Juan Carlos Urrutia Palacio, born September 12, 1966, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, is a celebrated Ecuadorian composer, arranger, guitarist, choral director, and cultural promoter. Best known for creating the Misa Popular Ecuatoriana, he has dedicated his career to celebrating and elevating Latin American music and Ecuadorian folklore. 

About his style, he fuses classical composition with deep roots in traditional Ecuadorian and Latin American folk music. Career Highlights: Founder of the CCE Choir: In 1998, he founded and became director of the Choir of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana (Nucleus of Guayas).Misa Popular Ecuatoriana: His most renowned work, blending traditional mass liturgical texts with Andean and Latin American musical rhythms. It has been performed internationally, including in the Philippines and Chile.Teaching: He has served as a professor of musical harmony and forms at the Institute of Music of the University of Guayaquil. Awards & Recognition:In 2006, he was awarded the Dr. Vicente Rocafuerte Medal, awarded by the Ecuadorian National Congress for his outstanding artistic merit.He also received the Medalla al Mérito Laboral, given by the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana (2013) for his continuous contributions to the arts. Beyond that, he has received ongoing institutional honors and acknowledgments across Ecuador and South America for his promotion of choral movements.