Initiated into the world of music via learning the dark art of the descant recorder at school, Ruth came home one day to discover her mother had purchased a clarinet from a neighbour for the princely sum of £25. Her path was set.
The newly set up Hounslow Borough wind band and the symphony orchestra (and Mrs. Cutler, an inspirational classroom music teacher) sparked her interest, her competitive spirit, and culminated with a degree from Trinity College of Music.
Ruth has been the 1st clarinet of the Swindon Symphony Orchestra since 2004 and plays regularly for other local (and not so local) orchestras and chamber groups. She has performed 3 concertos previously for SSO: Weber’s flashy 2nd clarinet concerto, Mozart’s sublime concerto and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon (with 3 other soloists from the orchestra). Solo outings with other orchestras have included Spohr’s 2nd concerto with Burford orchestra, another outing of the Weber with Isis Chamber Orchestra, and most recently Danzi’s concerto for flute and clarinet, also with Isis.
She has had various stints on the SSO committee where her main task is to ensure a plentiful supply of wine is available at the interval. Her day job is as a Data Analyst for Oxford Products.