Pianist

Ruth Ayres

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About Ruth

Classical flautist, violinist, singer & pianist, GSMD, RWCMD & UOL postgraduate; Ex BBC Symphony.
Pianist
Peterhead
Public liability insurance of £10 million

I perform as a soloist and orchestral player in the West End, for UK and European orchestras and as a session musician for the BBC, independent film companies and for the computer game industry. I also teaches intermediate & advanced students online worldwide. I can sing in both classical and popular styles, can perform as a singer - pianist and play flute, piano and violin. I studied with Jean Pierre Rampal and Peter Katin following graduation from the Guildhall School of Music London but has also studied with James Galway, Douglas Townshend, Francis Howard, Murray Perahia and many others. Qualifications: MA, AGSM, LRAM, LTCL, Ad Dip Ed.

Ruth
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5 out of 5
8 verified reviews

Ruth's Reviews

From customers:

MG
Mr M
9 months ago, for a Wedding in Dee St
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5 out of 5

Ruth - A very big thank you for your outstanding musical contribution to Natasha and Craig's wedding at Banchory Lodge Hotel on July 15th. We all enjoyed and appreciated the musicianship and fine flute playing.

NM
Neil M
11 months ago, for a Wedding in The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield
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5 out of 5

Ruth played flute and piano for our church wedding at Holy Trinity Church. We had classical music and Ruth also played hymns for us. It was magical and the atmosphere was electric. I would recommend her to anyone requiring a classical musician for a wedding ceremony - she was brilliant!

Read all 8 reviews
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This act has been working with Encore for over 2 years

Ruth's Song list

I have an extensive repertoire and can play any popular song on violin, flute or piano. NB If they require arranging or copyright permission this may mean there is an additional cost incurred)
Any standard orchestral repertoire piece or show/musical for violin or flute (violin1/2 flute 1/2/piccolo)
Piano accompaniment - any piece for instrument/voice at any level for auditions and examinations
Flute Repertoire:
The Blue Bell of Scotland
She Moved Through the Fair
The Last Rose of Summer
The Lark in the Clear Air
Inisheer
Caledonia
The Scottish Bluebells
The Rose of Allandale
Ye Banks and Braes
Tico Tico no Fuba (Sparrow in the Cornmeal) – Zequinha de Abreu
The Mexican Hat Dance – Trad Mexican
Ashokan Farewell – Trad American
To A Wild Rose – McDowell
Down by the Sally Gardens
Sí Bheag, Sí Mhór - Carolan
Wide selection of additional Celtic Songs
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba 
Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring 
Ave Maria Schubert
Ave Maria Bach/Gounod
Badinerie Bach​
Syrinx Debussy
Bach Flute Sonatas
Handel Flute Sonatas
Enesco Cantabile
Poulenc Sonata
Prokofiev Sonata
Winter Vivaldi
Offertoire Donjon
'Trumpet' Voluntary (Clarke)
Air from Suite in D Bach
Pachelbel Canon in D
Faure Pavane
Tambourin Gossec
Ave Maria based on Bach’s Prelude in C by C Gounod
Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Air on the G String – Bach
Habanera from Carmen – Bizet
Jupiter from the Planet’s Suite – Holst
New World Symphony – Dvorak
Rondo in D Minor from Abdelazer – Purcell (used in Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra – Britten)
Spring from the 4 Seasons – Vivaldi
Swan Lake Theme - Tchaikovsky
The Little Shepherd from Children’s Corner – Debussy
La fille aux cheveux de lin (Girl with the Flaxen Hair) Debussy
Waltz from Three Waltzes op 64 no 2 Chopin
Four slow movements arranged for flute from Violin Concerti by Vivaldi
Mazurka op7 no 1 – Chopin arranged by E Prill
Allegro from Eine Kleine Nacht Musik by Mozart
Minuet 1 & 2 arranged for flute from the Unaccompanied Bach Cello Suite 2
Sarabande from Partita in A Minor Bach
Poco Adagio from Sonata in A Minor for Flute - CPE Bach
Air from the Water Music – Handel
Entr’acte from Rosamunde – Schubert
Largo from Xerxes – Handel
O for the Wings of a Dove - Mendelssohn
Simple Gifts – Brackett
Be Thou My Vision (hymn)
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (hymn)
J.S.Bach Chorales (Wachet Auf etc.)
Handel: Air from the "Messiah" (He Shall Feed His Flock)
Amazing Grace
Beauty and the Beast​
Can you feel the Love Tonight​​
Gabriel's Oboe​ from The Mission
​River Flows in You 
My Heart Will Go On
​Hallelujah​
​In Dreams from Lord of the Rings
Grow Old with Me
I will be Here
You Raise Me Up
A Whole New World from Aladdin - A Menken
Circle of Life from the Lion King
Where do I Begin from Love Story – F Lai
Moon River – H Mancini
Up Where we Belong from An Officer & A Gentleman – Nitzsche, Jennings & Sainte-  Marie
Candle in the Wind Elton John
Annie’s Song-  John Denver
Eternal Flame Steinberg et al
Everything I Do,  I Do it for You – Bryan Adams
Hey Jude Lennon & McCartney
Killing Me Softly with His Song- C Fox
Show me Heaven – McKee et al
Love is All Around – R Presley
Wonderful Tonight – Eric Clapton
How Deep is Your Love – Gibb
If Tomorrow Never Comes – Brooks & Blazy
Can’t Help falling In Love – Weiss et al
The Air That I Breathe – Hammond & Hazelwood
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper & Robert Hyman
Your Song – Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Morning Has Broken
Greensleeves
Amazing Grace
Green Grow the Rushes Oh
Farewell Green Bushes
The Water is Wide
Wild Mountain Thyme
By the Waters of Babylon
Wide Selection of Disney, Christmas Songs & Video Game Themes
Jazz Standards
​Piano Repertoire:
Highland Cathedral
Loch Lomond
The Back of Bennachie
Scotland the Brave
Drummond Castle
I Wish you would Marry Me now
The Thistle of Scotland
Skye Boat Song
Amazing Grace
Farewell to the Misty Isle
Mhairi's Wedding
A Highland Lad My Love was Born
Annie Laurie
Will Ye No Come Back Again
Ye Banks and Braes
Ay Waukin' O
Brochan Lom
Bunessan
The Calton Weaver
Castles in the Air
Charlie is my Darling
Comin' Thro' the Rye
Fareweel tae Tarwathie
Bonnie Dundee
Flow Gently Sweet Afton
I Know Where Im Going
Lewis Bridal Song
Lock the Door Lariston
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
O Waly Waly
Scots Wha Hae
Blue Bells of Scotland
The Dashing White Sergeant
The Bonny Ship the Diamond
The Fairy Dance
The De'il Among the Tailors
The Soldiers Joy
The Meeting of the Waters
Wi' a Hundred Pipers an' a'
Auld Lang Syne
Canon in D Pachelbel
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring
Bach Preludes & Fugues
Chopin Nocturnes
Eric Satie Gymnopedie 1
Air on a G String Bach
Debussy Arabesques 
Einaudi Le Onde
Air & Hornpipe from the Water Music Handel
Bridal March Wagner
Thou Knowest Lord Purcell
Ave Maria Schubert
Wedding March Mendelssohn
Debussy Clair de Lune
Mendelssohn Songs Without Words 
Zadok the Priest
See the Conquering Hero Comes
Chopin Prelude in A
Panis Angelicus
Ode to Joy
Meditation from Thais
Let the Bright Seraphim
Largo from Xerxes
Jerusalem
I Will Magnify Thee
Ave Verum Corpus K618
The Swan from Carnival of Animals
All of Me
A Thousand Years
Love Story
How Long will I Love you
Love me like you do
You're Beautiful
Just the Way you Are
Thinking Out Loud
Can you feel the Love Tonight
Light My Love
Make You Feel My Love
You are the Reason
Wind Beneath my Wings
At Last
Hero
Kissing You
The Notebook
Open Arms
The Rose
All I Have
Always
How Deep is Your Love
I Will Always Love You
I've Got You Under my Skin
My Heart Will Go On
The Power of Love
Tonight I celebrate my Love
Jazz Standards; Christmas Songs
 

Ruth's Prices

Last updated: 2024

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£125
Up to 1 hour£187.50
Up to 2 hours£375
Up to 3 hours£500
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Clients often say that my performance created a romantic ambiance for their day. Flexibility, reliability and a beautiful tone is also often mentioned. A selection of reviews and testimonials are listed on my website and here on encore.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

The Royal Festival Hall, Seville Cathedral, Albert Hall, Westminster Registry, Barbican Hall, Brecon Cathedral, Cardiff Castle, Leeds Castle, Chatsworth, Woburn Abbey, Belton House, Parley Manor, Fountains Abbey, BBC Recording Studios, Harmon House, Pennsylvania Castle Estate, Belvoir Castle, The Manor Hotel; many other hotels & churches.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Past teachers: Geoffrey Gilbert, Stephen Preston, Edward Beckett, Douglas Townshend, Trevor Wye, James Galway and Jean Pierre Rampal (Flute); Peter Katin and Mary Rees (Piano). Francis Howard (Violin - BBC Welsh Symphony). Rock and Pop 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s icons, Rock Bands, Jazz, many current bands and artists too many influences to list here!

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Seville Cathedral for a Royal Wedding in 1995; Royal Festival Hall concert in 2015- when I performed as a soloist in a concert of aleatoric music by John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Witold Lutosławski. ; BBC Cymru showcase broadcasts of Daniel Jones and Grace Williams' compositions.

How much time do you need to set up?

Arrival time is usually 1 hour prior to the event

If I have a piano at my venue, are you happy to perform on that?

Yes that is fine of course and I would be very happy to play on it, although I will need to test it out before the event. It will need to be in working order and be tuned to concert pitch. (If you do not have a piano at the venue, you can hire a grand from Gordon Bell Pianos in Aberdeen)

Are you able to bring your own piano or keyboard?

Yes I own a top of the range Yamaha digital piano.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

yes although there may be an extra charge for a song that requires purchase or one that requires arranging.
Musicianship
Genres:
Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Film / TV music, Folk, Traditional Scottish folk, Welsh folk, Traditional church music, Traditional Irish folk, Traditional English folk, Jazz, Blues, Classic rock, World music, Scottish music, Pop, Covers
See all genres
Event types:
Concert, Wedding, Church service, Corporate event, Recording session, Private event, Charity event, Theatre / Show, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Virtual event, Birthday party
See all event types
Other skills:
Examiner, Composer, Songwriter, Accompanist, Instrumental teaching, Composition teaching, Arranger, Orchestrator, Transcription, Audio engineer, Fluent sight-reader, Theory teaching, Singing teaching, Music therapy
See all skills