November news

Performing at the Tung Auditorium on 5th November 2025 in the Yoko Ono Lennon Lunchtime Concert Series, photograph by Alan Blundell.

As we approach the end of November, it's time for some news and updates of the last few months.

I had the great pleasure of completing an interview with the University of Oxford Alumni team in October. I was approached to feature in their alumni series to spotlight working in the music industry. The published interview highlights the importance of music education and my own experiences in the industry, as well as the value in supporting others. It also allowed me to reflect on how my career incorporates many avenues, from research to performance.

In early November I once again took to the stage at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool to perform as a part of the Yoko Ono Lennon Lunchtime Concert series. This year's concert, titled A Piano Voyage to France, explored the rich tapestry and colours of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century French piano repertoire. The programme included Franck's immense Prélude, Chorale et Fugue which I first learnt during my Masters at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, it was a real pleasure to revisit this piece and rediscover the beauty of the chorale alongside the mastery of the Fugue. I've received some wonderful feedback from the concert, including the following:

'There's something special about Ruth's playing that I would describe as an exceptional ability to 'shape' a piece, to bring out its architecture and emotional currents. She has an unusual type of charisma that, like Myra Hess's or Tatiana Nikolayeva's, is not founded on dazzling fingerwork (though her technique is fully up to the job), but rather on a profound understanding of, and rapport with, the music she plays. This understanding was displayed similarly in her expertly conceived and delivered introductions to the pieces.'

There's nothing quite like sharing the joy of music with others, and knowing that it is greatly received. The 5h November lunchtime concert was recorded and clips are uploaded here on my YouTube channel.

Final news for now, the Harrison Parrott Foundation had their most recent Symposium at the Glasshouse in Gateshead earlier in November. It was a great gathering of people from across the music industry, all dedicated to conversations relating to supporting the next generation and championing music education.

As we move towards the close of 2025, I'm continuing to champion music education and explore multiple pathways in the industry to share music with others. Until next time.

Introducing pieces at the Tung Auditorium on 5th November 2025 in the Yoko Ono Lennon Lunchtime Concert Series, photograph by Alan Blundell.