CAMRYN RUTHVEN

Camryn (she/her) is a classically-trained pianist, having received instruction under the mentorship of Kati Gleiser (lineage of Menahem Pressler) and at present, belongs to the studio of Anya Alexeyev. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Music (Honours), balancing her studies in classical piano with her passions for ethnomusicological research and the music of her ancestral Scottish Gaelic traditions.

As an artist and performer, Camryn weaves the medicines of earth-centredness and Gàidhlig traditions into her own creative tapestry through poetry, song-writing, vocal improvisation, and instrumentation (primarily piano/guitar/bodhrán). She has competed and performed at the Summerfolk Festival (selected as a successful 2022 Youth Discoveries emerging artist) as well as the Sweetwater Next Wave showcase (2021). 

As a sound therapist/Soundworker (ITM certification, mentorship with Gary Diggins), and bearing a passion for holistic health, Camryn believes deeply in the healing and empowering capacities of music as medicine. Learning to play the piano is more than a technical, instrumental practice. It is a medium through which we grow musically, emotionally, and spiritually as human beings. With an individualized approach to piano instruction, Camryn embraces the unique aspirations and journeys of students to help them develop with their technical musicianship, creative artistry, and self-expression. Lessons are structured in alignment with the RCM syllabus, while also emphasizing/integrating creation (ie. composition/improvisation) and opportunities for students to discover their individual artistry.

In her spare time, Camryn can be found jamming with her sisters (The Ruthven Sisters) alongside the Thirsty Night Boys to some acoustified 40s big band tunes/60s folk songs, or, as a beginner bagpiper, parading with the Beaver Valley Pipes and Drums.