About Me...the abridged version!
I have enjoyed singing numerous operatic and music theater roles and from Queens to Wardrobes and concertizing regularly having sung dozens of concerts in venues across the nation and a few across the pond. Of one performance the New York Daily News reported I sang with “soaring dramatic authority.” I thoroughly enjoy teaching voice in both the classical and contemporary areas at BYU, I taught crossover voice at Snow College for five years, have taught at the Ruth Ellis Vocal Academy since 2000 and am a frequent guest teacher/presenter at many other schools and universities across the country. I just finished serving as Governor of the NATS Cal-Western Region and sitting on the NATS National Board where I was instrumental in expanding the National Student Auditions to include commercial music and childrens' categories. I earned my Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the Manhattan School of Music and studied and performed in New York for fourteen years. I earned my Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Utah and completed the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute training at Shenandoah Conservatory (twice). My husband, of 34 years, are the proud parents of six children and one son-in-law. Pink makes me happy! My favorite escape is to go to the movies. Favorite guilty pleasure would be Ruffles and chocolate ice cream ...every other bite.
What I love about teaching...
- Teaching all the styles, classical, musical theater, and contemporary. Such a delicious variety.
- The larynx. That it can literally voice the feelings of the soul. It is a miracle to me. Every day.
- The gift it is to be able to guide a student in finding and building their unique voice. It still gives me goosebumps.
- The days I get to scoop up a world-weary student, have them sing away their troubles and send them bouncing back out the door happy and pink cheeked (singing is healthy for you:).
- How building someone’s voice also builds their confidence.
- Teaching my students how to authentically tell the story. This transcendence of the present reality is the magic of theater.
- Showing my students everything they already know how to do with their voices and how to further liberate and support their instruments.
Education
- Bachelor of Music, Manhattan School of Music
- Master of Music, Manhattan School of Music
- Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Utah
- The Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute (2017 & 2021)
- Rock the Audition Teacher Training with Sheri Saunders
- Teacher Development Circle with Jess Baldwin
- 10 National and International Conferences
- Dozens of National Association of Teachers of Singing trainings
- Decades of vocal instruction in multiple genres
- A ridiculous stack of well loved pedagogy books
Performance and Direction
I have had the joy of singing 20 roles, from Queens to Wardrobes; dozens of solo concerts across the nation, some of which championed living composers music; dozens of joint concerts with organizations across the nation including an alumni concert at Manhattan School of Music; produced and directed 13 shows from Utah to New York, including La Cenerentola at the University of Utah.
“Ruth gave a detailed and moving performance as a mad boy, physically expressive and precise notwithstanding the fact that she was rigged by Foy for a complicated flying route and singing (faultlessly) a murderous coloratura showpiece. In those perilous moments Ruth showed a rare ability to integrate physical, intellectual, vocal and emotional priorities in a coherent affecting performance. I honestly cannot think of any singer alive who could have done this part better.” Stephen Wadsworth, Head of Dramatic Studies, Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, Metropolitan Opera
“Ruth Ellis was a stand out in our production of beauty and the beast at the Scera Shell outdoor theater...She played the wardrobe and kept us in stitches with her clever delivery... She is witty and fun and makes a great cast member. She loves the other cast members and even put together a cast talent show for our cast party. Ruth has the full package: talent, hard work ethic and pleasant to be around.” Martha Glissmeyer, Musical Director
