Ricardo Risco Cortés studied composition, orchestral, and choral conducting at the National Conservatory of Music of Mexico. In Mexico he worked as a music director of various orchestras and choirs, and held professorship at different music institutions. He is a winner of numerous important awards including: first place at the “Luis Sandi” 1992 Composition Competition; first place at the 1997 and 1998 Choral Composition Competition held by Orquestas Juveniles de México; and first place in the Composition Competition for Symphonic Works “Sinfónica 99.” Additionally, he was a fellowship recipient on various occasions of the Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes de México (National Fund for the Culture and the Arts of Mexico).

His works have been performed in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Some events include the International Forum of New Music (Mexico), International Festival Cervantino (Mexico), Festival Casa de las Américas (Madrid, Spain), Latin American Festival of Music of Caracas (Venezuela), and the Music Festival of Costa Rica.

In April of 2000 Ricardo Risco returned to Panama to hold the position of Assistant Conductor of the National Symphony of Panama and professorship at the National Institute of Music of Panama in which he currently leads the School of Composition.

Since 2006 he has held the position of artistic director of music summer camps hosted by Meduca-Inac, and additionally organizes the Muestras de Compositores Panameños (Samples of Panamanian Composers).