Ruth and James Sanderson
Ruth Sanderson (violin)
Ruth grew up in York and began learning the violin aged 2. She went on to read Music & Mathematics at the University of Birmingham, studying violin with Kath Gittings. Ruth then moved to Manchester in 2015 to study for a Masters in Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music with Steven Wilkie. Whilst studying, Ruth played with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy and twice successfully auditioned to be a member of the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme.
Ruth currently freelances with orchestras including the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. She has worked under conductors including Marin Alsop, Daniel Harding and Sir Mark Elder in concert halls across the country and elsewhere in Europe.
Ruth lives in Manchester with her cat, Yugi. She plays a modern violin, made in 2022 by Alexandre Valois.
James Sanderson (piano)
Born and brought up in York, James began playing the piano at the age of five and was taught by Rosemary Johnson. From 2009 to 2014 he studied Civil Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, where he also took piano lessons with Peter Evans, and regularly performed as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician.
Since returning to York, James has combined his professional work as a civil engineer with his love of music. He performs regularly as a recital accompanist and has been a repetiteur with York Opera since 2015. In 2019 James performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K.414 in A major with a chamber orchestra at St Olave’s church, Marygate.
James achieved the ABRSM Diploma in Piano Performance with distinction in 2017, and currently takes lessons from Sarah Beth Briggs. Aside from piano, James plays violin and viola with orchestras such as the Academy of St Olave’s, City of York Guildhall Orchestra and York Musical Society. He also sings tenor in the choir of St Olave’s church.