Arturo found his way to music at the age of 14 thanks to the formation of the Municipal Band of San Pedro Garza García. He received an Honorable Mention in the basic cycle at the Higher School of Music and Dance of the City of Monterrey, and finished his Bachelor of Jazz at the Higher School of Music of the INBA Mexico City.
Among the masters with whom he has studied are: Jesús Delgado, Francisco Téllez, Tobías Delius, Bob Hoit, Robert Dick, Paul Cheneour, and Ole Mathisen – among others. He has been a member of various ensembles such as La Banda Municipal de Monterrey (1980), Ensamble Barroco by Jesús Delgado (1981), Ensamble Jazz Pop by Enrique Valadez, Brass Explosión Big Band (1985), Four Winds 4th. Mexican Jazz Quartet (1986), Monterrey Jazz 4 (1990), Amaretto (1991), Big Band Monterrey (2000), Duet Ávila Liceaga (Guitar and Flute)(2002), Los Diez Pianos (2005), 4th of Saxophones Monterrey 400, Saxophone Quartet Kumi Tachi, Arturo Ávila Jazz Quartet (2006), 40 West Jazz Quartet (2007), and Arturo Ávila and Piedra de las Iguanas (2008).
In 2020, UFIM awarded Arturo the Santa Cecilia Medal for the Best Solo Instrumentalist. He has recorded for innumerable national and foreign groups and artists, and was recently invited to represent the State of Nuevo León in the 1st National Jazz Festival in Mexico City.
He is currently Director of the Municipal Orchestra of Santa Catarina, La Danzonera Sierra Madre, Quarteto de Saxofones Nimbus and Monterrey Dixieland Jazz Band.
Arturo has also taught in the past at Escuela Superior de Música y Danza (Monterrey NL) as assistant to Maestro Jesús Delgado, Universidad de Montémorelos, FORMUS Educational and Musical Training AC, ECFA (Christian School of Artistic Training), Birdland (Academy of Music), Instituto Americano, Mike Percussion (Academy), Leal Isida (Academy), as well as private classes for saxophone, flute, jazz and improvisation.
Arturo Ávila has also produced four major musical productions throughout his career: Arriving, My Favorite Pieces Vol. 1, Brown Eyes, and Arturo Ávila and Piedra de las Iguanas (live DVD).