Ruth Davies

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The Orchestra

Ruth Davies

Oboe
Adopted by Maestro! Touring and in memory of Mary Riddoch

Born in Southport, Ruth was lucky enough to attend a primary school with an inspirational class teacher who encouraged her to learn the recorder and to join the school orchestra. The repertoire was mainly Grand Opera and the orchestra regularly won classes in the Southport Music Festival. After a brief stint learning the violin, Ruth was offered free lessons for a year at school learning the oboe. She was then able to play with the Sefton Wind Orchestra, Sefton Youth Orchestra and, ultimately, the Merseyside Youth Orchestra.

These wonderful experiences and opportunities led Ruth to consider the possibility of applying to attend music college. Ruth studied with Roger Winfield at the Royal Northern College of Music and, after graduating, she embarked on a busy freelance career with many of the U.K.’s finest orchestras. In 1994 Ruth was thrilled to join the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the first orchestra she had heard live. Since then, Ruth has been lucky enough to perform as concerto soloist on numerous occasions, most notably with Nigel Kennedy in Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe. Ruth is also a member of the Liverpool Wind Collective chamber music group.

Music education is a passion for Ruth, she regularly works at All Saints Primary School in Anfield, making music with 2-year-old children in a child-led, creative environment. Ruth is also the tutor for the oboe section of the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and has played as concerto soloist with them on 2 occasions.

Fun Fact:
When not working, Ruth bakes cakes to relax and enjoys making gin infusions whilst listening to Ella Fitzgerald and The Archers.

What is your earliest musical memory?

I remember visiting my Mum's relations. They had a piano and I used to bash away at it. (I thought I was composing!) I was about 4 years old.

What is your favourite Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra recording?

My favourite CD is the 'Adagietto' CD we made with Libor in 1997. It's got lots of slushy oboe solos on it, which I got to play. I've a huge sentimental attachment to it for lots of reasons.

What is your most memorable moment with the Orchestra so far?

This is the hardest question. I don't know. I love the variety of my job. Playing as part of a Big Band in jazz concerts, chamber music...it's always a different challenge. I think the most memorable moments are when there's a huge orchestra on and that magical feeling of getting swept away by the sound. Fabulous.

What is on your CD/MP3/Spotify playlist right now?

I love listening to French singers like Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet. There's always a fabulous accordion solo and it transports me to a cafe somewhere in rural France drinking some of the local wine.