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Ruth Bebb started playing the violin at the age of seven. As she was completing her studies on the violin, she began playing the viola, and very much enjoys the darker sound of this instrument. Ruth joined the Ulster Orchestra as sub-principal viola in 1980. She is now principal no.2 viola - the only female in the viola section! Chamber music has always been important to Ruth - she was a founder member of Orion String Quartet, and played first violin in this for fifteen years. Ruth spends a lot of time reading about composers - she feels that their thoughts and attitudes can shed light on their music, although the music is rarely influenced by the events directly preceding its composition. The words and writings of the composer, historic events of the time, the way the composer fits in to his society, and the reaction of others to his music are all elements in our understanding of the composer. The instruments that Ruth plays are an 18th century violin, a modern viola, a recently-made baroque violin, electric violin and ravanhattha - a stringed instrument from India which is a great success in education events for primary school pupils. |
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Chris Blake studied piano and french horn as joint first study at college, where he won the Tagore medal for outstanding student of the year. As a pianist he has worked with a number of groups and individuals in Northern Ireland including Belfast Wind Quintet and Orion String Quartet. Chris is first horn with the Ulster Orchestra, and also plays keyboard, celeste and harpsichord with the orchestra on occasions, for example when there is a small string group playing a baroque concert. |
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Chris helping a young student pianist at a performance seminar for A2 music pupils held in the Harty Room. |
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