Dr Ruth K Minton MA (Oxon), LRSM, MA (RWCMD), PhD, FHEA
A soloist, collaborative pianist, educator and director, Dr Ruth K. Minton is a highly qualified music professional based in the North-West of England.
Ruth is a full-time Lecturer in Classical Performance at the University of Liverpool. She oversees undergraduate Classical Performance and leads modules on Classical Performance, pedagogy, and harmony. As an Artistic Director, Ruth has experience organising events and concerts throughout the UK; most recently as a co-producer of the Amplifying Voices events to mark International Women's Day at the University of Liverpool. As a member of the department, Ruth is also the liaison for the external partnerships, which include ensemble-in-residence, the Solem Quartet, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. She also maintains an active performance diary, including as a part of the University of Liverpool's Lunchtime Concert series at the Tung Auditorium.
Ruth is a Trustee of the Harrison Parrott Foundation, championing music education and the arts. This aligns with some of her work at the University of Liverpool, where she coordinates widening participation events to support A-level students across Merseyside.
After graduating from Oxford with an MA Honours degree in music in 2010, Ruth graduated with a Masters degree in Music Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as achieving an LRSM Diploma in Piano Performance. Actively participating in performances throughout her studies, including playing in master classes for Paul Lewis, Christian Blackshaw, Leslie Howard and Louis Lortie; she was awarded the College’s Schubert Medal in 2012 in recognition of her expertise in Schubert performance. Ruth’s PhD, supervised by Dr Joe Davies, centred on Schubert's relationship with the piano, with recordings on historical keyboard instruments and a live recital forming part of her project. Ruth was invited to present her work 'Schubert’s Piano Music: Origins in Performance' for the Schubert Institute UK, with a recital at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2019 as well as a part of their first online study day in 2020. Her current research focuses on performance practice of piano music in the nineteenth century, as well as wider performance and pedagogical topics.
A sought-after performance coach and academic tutor with experience of teaching and lecturing at all levels of education, which included the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where she was Head of Academic Studies for the Junior Department and a Visiting Lecturer for the Senior Department. At the Conservatoire she taught advanced harmony and techniques of composition to class groups, as well as arranging, music history and analysis in one-to-one tutorials. Ruth’s expertise as a performer were also utilised at the Conservatoire as an ensemble and accompaniment coach to young pianists. In her role as Head of Academic Studies, Ruth offered support to students with their university and music college applications.
Ruth continues to support music education at all levels alongside her role at the University of Liverpool, both as an academic and pianist.