R u t h P h i l l i p s
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Ruth Phillips is a cellist based in France and the UK. She covers a wide range of musical styles, with performances in improvised, dance and world music featuring regularly alongside her successful career as a modern and baroque cellist. Ruth played for many years with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. She is currently a member of Glyndebourne Touring Opera, playing continuo cello in the 2001 production of Mozart's 'Marriage of Figaro', and in the 2003 production of Handel's 'Theodora' with Emanuelle Haim. In 2004 she appeared as guest principal cellist with the Lyon Opera in Haydn's 'Philomen and Baucis' and in 2005 'Philomen and Baucis' with the Musicians du Louvre. Other highlights of 2005 will be playing with Le Concert d'Astree and Emmanuelle Haim in France and in the Edinburgh Festival. Principal cello appearances include the Hanover Band, the London Handel Orchestra and Musica Antiqua de Provence. In 2001 Ruth completed a world tour of the Bach Brandenburg Concerti on original instruments with the New London Consort.
Ruth has written her thesis on the therapeutic affect of voice and movement for string players, which was published in the Voice-Movement-Therapy Journal. She has had articles published in the Strad magazine, the International cello Society Newsletter and the Music and Psyche Journal. Together with the renowned jazz singer and teacher, Carol Grimes, and dancer Sophie Ferman she runs workshops for performers, using movement, improvised music and therapeutic process to address issues such a stage fright, aiming to help participants to reclaim performance as an act of generosity.
"I have recently had the pleasure of receiving tuition from Ruth Phillips. Her approach to teaching is such that she creates an environment that can only allow the pupil to develop in all areas. It is rare to find a teacher that can combine all aspects of musicianship and convey them in a clear, logical, and essentially human way. What is particularly informative is Ruths understanding of the relationship between the mental (interpretative) and physical being her intense musical understanding and knowledge expressed not only through sound but also through a physical technique, which, if singled out, is an art form of its own. She then has the ability to relate these connections with everyday life experiences in a revelatory manner. Ruths knowledge of many different musical styles and techniques also has a profound affect on the pupil. It makes you realize that all music, whether simple or complex, is in some way related, and how much we can learn from appreciating other musicians, styles, and cultures. The result is a well-rounded musician with a broad interpretation. However, it is Ruths own relationship with her cello that is most educational. She literally embraces it as if it were an extension of her own body, constantly working with it to create an atmosphere of enlightenment and artistic satisfaction.
Daniel Keane
"In addition to being a gifted and accomplished cellist, Ruth Phillips has developed movement and body awareness skills to a point where she can use them effectively in helping students to address their physical and emotional relationship with their instrument. She is a fine poet whose use of imagery combined with her clear ability to articulate the core principals of Voice-Movement-Therapy in the service of aspiring string players has enabled her to take this work into a whole new area" Anne Brownell, MA, LMHC, DipVMT. "Your thesis is an amazing accomplishment. There is so much evidence in your discourse of your passionate search for the roots of music; its nature and ways to find it. Congratulations on articulating what you' ve discovered and setting it down in a clear and poetic way."
Timothy Eddy
"Ruth Phillips is a fine cellist who plays with exceptional musicianship and gripping sensitivity, always communicating a strong vision of the piece... (Ruth) has been through a deep personal journey into the nature of the psychology - one might say spirituality - of performance. As a result of this journey with her students and her study of Indian and other musical disciplines she now has a highly valuable lesson to offer to all who approach her; a lesson much needed in the current climate, and to my knowledge, a unique one." Jonathan Harvey (MA, Ph.D, D.MUS, FRCM), composer. "Thankyou so much for all that I have learned and for all that you have given out to us. I feel that you have changed my whole physical thinking of my relationship with my cello" Participant in cello workshop at Dartington. 2000 "You and Carol were so different and seemed so at home together. Thanks for being an accessible musician. How I bless the Festival organisers" Participant in Healing Sounds Festival workshop with Carol Grimes, 2000 | ||||
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Together with the 5 Rhythms dancer, Sophie Ferman, Ruth is involved in a project performing the Bach Suites to improvised modern dance. These performances have taken place in the Healing Sounds Festivals in Brighton in 2000 and 2002 In addition to a masters degree in music performance from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Ruth has an MA in 'Voice-Movement-Therapy' from the Academy of Contemporary Research in Montana, USA. Having studied jazz, folk, African and Indian singing and instrumental styles, and with her experience in yoga, Alexander Technique and various forms of dance she is sought after as an innovative and exciting teacher and workshop leader. She runs cello workshops at Dartington Summer School where she also coaches chamber music, and works regularly with the cello groups from Youth Orchestras such as East Sussex and European Youth Summer Music. She is also involved in Glyndebourne Education.