A soloist, collaborative pianist, educator and director, Dr Ruth K. Minton is a highly qualified music professional based in the North-West of England.
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 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 centred on Schubert's relationship with the piano, with recordings on historical keyboard instruments forming a 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 secondary education, Ruth worked at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire from 2014 to 2022, 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.
In 2017 Ruth was a part of the original team to launch the Liverpool based charity Early Music as Education (EMAE). As an ensemble coach and tutor, Ruth was an active member of the team for the successful tours to Italy and Spain in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Ruth also played continuo (harpsichord and organ) for the Early Music Youth Orchestra, including performing in the UK premiere of Alessandro Scarlatti’s ‘St John Passion’ in 2019.
A passionate performer, Ruth maintains an active performance diary, from performing for music societies across the Midlands and the University of Liverpool Lunchtime Concert Series. In 2019 Ruth was involved with a series of workshops for the National Trust, focussing on Elgar's music and the link between nature, wellbeing and music.
In September 2020, Ruth joined the team as a Lecturer in Classical Performance at the University of Liverpool, becoming a full-time member of the department in August 2022. She leads undergraduate and postgraduate modules on Classical Performance, historically-informed performance, pedagogy and harmony. As an Artistic Director, Ruth has experience organising events and concerts around the UK, most recently as a co-producer of the Amplifying Voices events to mark International Women's Day at the University of Liverpool.
Ruth is also a Trustee of the Harrison Parrott Foundation, championing music education and the arts. This is an area Ruth is passionate about and continues to be central to her projects at the University of Liverpool and wider afield.