FindaHarpist

Ruth - ID463

Styles Classical / Popular

Counties Bristol • Devon • Dorset • Gloucestershire • Somerset • Wiltshire

Biography

Ruth is a versatile harpist with 15 years professional experience in all areas of performance. She has played throughout the UK at major concert halls and prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Truro and Exeter Cathedrals, St. James' Palace, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Barbican Hall.
Now based in Somerset, she performs extensively around the South West frequenting the beautiful Roman Baths and Assembly Rooms as well as many of the luxury hotels in the location.

"Thank you so very much for playing such beautiful music during our wedding reception. I have lost count of how many guests passed comments, each and every one speaking very highly of your talent"

Ruth began learning the harp at the age of 8, soon earning a Music Scholarship to Badminton School in Bristol. Her earliest performances included playing with The National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain and as a soloist in Handel's Harp Concerto at St. George's Brandon Hill, Bristol when she was 13. At 17 she became the Resident Harpist at the illustrious Bath Spa Hotel.

"Your playing was astounding and it made our reception extra special. Every guest at our wedding thought you were truly amazing"

After studying with soloist Susan Drake for 5 years, Ruth gained an Associateship to The Royal College of Music - ARCM, in harp performance. Following this, she studied at Kings College, London for a degree in Pharmacology, subsequently working in the Pharmaceutical industry. Ultimately the harp was to dominate and she now lives in Bath, from where she plays regularly all over the West Country.

Ruth has featured as a soloist in Rodrigo's Concerto Serenata, Danses Sacree et Profane by Debussy and Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto. She has accompanied numerous choirs in works such as Britten's Ceremony of Carols and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. She has broadcast for BBC Radio and Television, undertaken a large number of opera projects and regularly plays in a range of orchestral concerts as well as having played at more than 400 weddings

She is in demand with Orchestras, Opera companies and as a Soloist, as well as for weddings and other corporate events.

She also performs with other musicians and is available in the following combinations:

Harp and Flute
Harp and Violin
Harp and Cello
Harp and Voice

Ruth has a wealth of experience playing for Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions. The harp is the perfect choice for a Civil or Church Marriage. Normally the music is featured at points in the Ceremony as follows:

While your guests are seating
The Entrance of the Bride
The Signing of the Register
The Exit of the Bride and Groom
Lighter music can be enjoyed during the celebratory drinks and also during the Wedding Breakfast. The sound of the harp is unobtrusive and provides an enchanting background atmosphere.

Ruth encourages a no obligation music consultation for weddings, so you can listen and select your music.

There is an enormous choice of harp music to fit every setting. Here are some recommendations -

Wedding Music
Bridal March - Wagner
Wedding March - Mendelssohn
Canon - Pachelbel
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel
Arabesque no.1 - Debussy
Ave Maria - Gounod/Schubert
Greensleeves
Tom Bowling - Dibdin
Gymnopedie no. 1 - Satie
O For the Wings of a Dove - Mendelssohn

Songs from Shows and Film
Theme from Cats
The Phantom of the Opera
I Gather Lilacs from Perchance to Dream
Theme from Titanic
Lara's Theme from Doctor Zhivago

Popular Standards
Misty
My Foolish Heart
Days of Wine and Roses
I Get a Kick out of You
Tea for Two