Born in Stourbridge, Ruth started learning to play the violin at the age of seven with encouragement from her father. Her piano-playing mother wanted Ruth to learn the flute, ‘but I only concentrated on violin lessons’.

Ruth studied with Gwendoline Johnson at St James’s Junior School, Wollaston; Kenneth Farmer at the Girls’ High School and King Edward VI Sixth Form College in Stourbridge and then five years studying with Derek Collier at the Royal Academy of Music.

‘During my time at the Academy, I gave several recitals and also played the Vieuxtemps No 5, Tchaikovsky and Sibelius Violin Concertos with various orchestras in and around London. After leaving the Academy, I did some freelance work in the Vivaldi Concertante in London and the Welsh National Opera, BBC Welsh and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestras’.

Ruth says there have been many highlights for her as a member of the CBSO but the most memorable have been Andris Nelsons and Sir Bryn Terfel at Symphony Hall`s 21st Birthday Concert in 2012, Wagner`s The Flying Dutchman in 2013 and the Beethoven Cycle with Andris Nelsons in 2014 and more recently the CBSO Centenary Celebration Concert in 2020 with Sir Simon Rattle, performed in a vast warehouse in Longbridge. 'It was very emotional to be reunited with colleagues after many months of uncertainty'.

Outside the Orchestra, Ruth says ‘I enjoy every aspect of gardening; from seed sowing to hard landscaping and looking after the wildlife in the process! I also enjoy researching on the internet and spending time with my family’.