Ruth Marshall
Born and raised in Seattle, cellist Ruth Marshall (she/her/hers) is active as a performer, teacher, and arts leader throughout greater Minnesota. She holds undergraduate degrees in Music Theory and Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington, and graduate degrees in Cello Performance from DePaul University in Chicago, where she was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
She has taught cello at Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, DePaul University, and Butler University Community Arts. She has played the opera and orchestral repertoire as a regular member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and the Britt Festival Orchestra, and as a guest with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Minnesota Opera, and the Michigan Opera Theater. She has been featured as a concerto soloist with the Wind Ensemble Society of New York City, the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra, and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
Currently, Ruth teaches on the faculty of the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music, and is the principal cello of the Rochester Symphony. She is the cellist of Artu Duo, which debuted at Carnegie Hall in 2016, and the Mill City String Quartet, which is in residence with Minnesota Public Radio. She is the co-director of Florestan Chamber Music, and the Executive Director of the Apollo Music Festival.
She lives in Saint Paul, on Dakota land, with her husband and son.
I have the privilege of learning alongside my students as we explore and study the cello and music together. Learning how to play the cello offers students the opportunities to grow in mindfulness, approach challenges in a healthy and empowering way, and learn more about themselves. Engaging with music provides possibilities for students to connect with others and express themselves fully, while creating something beautiful. It is my job to meet my students wherever they are, and to offer resources, support, and guidance as they strive to reach their goals.
“I’ve come to think of music in a way that’s a little clearer now. I would say the sound part of it, what you hear, the measurable part of the sound, is equivalent to the tip of an iceberg, less than 10 percent of the whole mass. So what’s below the surface is actually what is the music, what’s above is just the sound.” – Yo-Yo Ma
