Ruth Sanderson

Ruth grew up in York and began learning the violin aged 2. She later learnt piano, singing and flute and had achieved Grade 8 on all 4 instruments by the time she left for university. Ruth graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2014 with a BA (Hons) in Music & Mathematics (joint honours). Whilst at university Ruth played with and led the university orchestras and was co-leader of the CBSO Youth Orchestra in her final year. She also sang with the CBSO Chorus, and had the privilege of singing with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle in February 2015, and at the BBC Proms with the CBSO and Andris Nelsons in July 2015. Ruth moved to Manchester in 2015 to study for a Masters in Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music with Steve Wilkie. During her studies she played regularly as a principle in the RNCM orchestras in Manchester and on tour to Italy. Ruth has also played with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy in Germany, the Britten-Pears Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra and Kaleidoscope Orchestra under conductors including Marin Alsop, Daniel Harding and Sir Mark Elder. In January 2019 she performed at the Opening Ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as part of an all-female orchestra chosen by Marin Alsop to celebrate her work championing gender equality in classical music. Ruth enjoys chamber music in varying formats, from quartet recitals to weddings. She has also worked for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and Lancashire Music Service in delivering outreach work in the North-West. Ruth plays an Italian violin by Anselmo Gotti, generously on loan to her from the Harrison Frank Foundation. She was generously supported in her studies by the Peter Chase Award and York Merchant Taylor's.