Voice

People ask me, when did you start singing?

When I think about it, I’ve always sang. It’s one of the things that brings me pure joy. I believe deep in our souls we are all singers, we were designed that way (my Hebridean mum would argue strongly against me as she claims to be tone deaf, however many a time I’ve walked in on her singing nursery rhymes to my children!).

I joke with my friends that my singing career peaked too early. By the time I was twenty I had been nominated for a Young Scots award for services to the arts recognising my commitment to music. I had sung in Baroque ensembles, Modern Cantatas and everything in between. I was privileged to work with inspiring vocal coaches and performers, sang solo at the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, and sang with the famous Chautauqua choir in New York, (where I spent a summer on an international arts scholarship).

However it was through my academic studies in Community Music at Strathclyde University that I truly understood the value of facilitating choirs and that inspired me to make the move from performer to facilitator.

My first professional singing teaching role was with Stagecoach Arts. This whet my appetite and I progressed to teach for other renown arts organisations such as the City of Edinburgh Council Voice Academy and Razzamataz Theatre School, where I supported a group which performed on the West End in London.

As my career developed I found myself leading a choir and teaching singing in an Edinburgh secondary school, and took on smaller commissions across Edinburgh.

In 2014, I moved to Perth and since then I have continued choir leading on a short-term freelance basis, working with Perthformance, Dundee Community Gospel Choir, Perth Theatre, Tulloch Net and Just Singin’. I have also worked across Primary schools in Perth, Dundee, Fife and Stirling with The Frisson Foundation.

My practice aims to be inclusive as possible. My preferred teaching method is working in the round using natural voice, with harmonies and inspiring songs. However, I am flexible in meeting the needs of different groups and can use sheet music too. I love creating my own arrangements and was recently commissioned to create a ‘Perthshire Blessing’.

Some people ask me, do I miss singing? But the truth is, just because I’m not performing doesn’t mean I’m not singing. I love nothing more than singing with the groups with which I’m working. Also, I sometimes sing on the side, whether it’s at church or for a friend’s wedding. Most recently I sang backing vocals on Celtic Worship’s latest album.

I also love hearing other groups singing and am often asked to judge performing events such as choir competitions or local talent shows.

For Choir Leading enquiries please get in touch via the contact page.

Thank you,

Ruth

Above Image Shows Ruth conducting Tulloch Net Community Choir at a Christmas Performance