Ruth Mar

Harpist Ruth Mar (Kirkland) has performed as a soloist in the US, Canada, and Israel, including concerto appearances alongside the University of Washington Symphony and Rainier Symphony. She has served on the music faculty as harp instructor at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA; and recently, was a featured performer at the American Harp Society national conference. She is currently the Artistic Director of Parnassus Project, an innovative chamber music series in the greater Seattle area. As a chamber musician, Ruth has performed with flutists Paula Robison and Marco Granados, and violist Melia Watras. An active freelance musician, she regularly performs with ensembles such as Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Spokane Symphony, Seattle University choirs, Rainier Symphony, and Thalia Symphony. She also maintains a private teaching studio in Kirkland. Ruth completed her Master of Music at the University of Washington in 2010 with Heidi Lehwalder and her Bachelor of Music at The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto with Judy Loman. Her other major musical influences include Alison Austin (harp) and Willard Schultz (piano). Ruth’s extra-musical interests include dabbling in graphic design, serving at her church, searching for good coffee, and spending time with family and friends.

Ruth received a 2012 GAP to cover musician stipends for six harp chamber music concerts in cafes throughout the Seattle area. Ruth has been planning concerts on a volunteer basis since the end of 2011 with great success. Performing in these nontraditional, relaxed venues is an excellent way to introduce new audiences to classical music.