Ruth Marshall

Recognized as a “standout” by the Seattle Times, cellist Ruth Marshall (she/her/hers) enjoys a versatile career as a chamber musician, soloist, orchestral player, and teacher across the United States.

After earning undergraduate degrees in Comparative History of Ideas and Music Theory & History at the University of Washington, she earned a Master of Music and Certificate in Performance from DePaul University. While a graduate student, she was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Ms. Marshall has been principal cello of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra since 2019. She was principal cello of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra from 2013 to 2020, and she made her solo debut with the orchestra in the 2017-2018 season, playing Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme.” Since 2014, she has been a member of the Britt Festival Orchestra, playing an annual three-week summer season in Jacksonville, OR.

Ms. Marshall made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2016, playing a full recital at Weill Recital Hall with her duo partner, pianist Garret Ross. Performing under the name “Artu Duo,” Ms. Marshall and Mr. Ross have concertized in the United Kingdom and across North America, including two performances on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Series in Chicago, IL, which were broadcast live on WFMT.

Since 2013, Artu Duo has been the ensemble-in-residence at the Apollo Music Festival in Houston, MN, and they will once again be Minnesota Public Radio Class Notes Concert Artists in the 2021-2022 season. Together, Ms. Marshall and Mr. Ross co-direct Florestan Chamber Music, which presented its first season of chamber music concerts in the Twin Cities during the 2019-2020 season.

In the 2016-2017 season, Ms. Marshall joined the Mill City String Quartet, based in St. Paul, MN. They will once again be Minnesota Public Radio as Class Notes Concert Artists during the 2021-2022 season, working with public school music students throughout the Twin Cities metro area.

Ms. Marshall is a committed and engaged cello teacher. She is currently on the faculty of Hamline University and Winona State University.

She has been an instructor at Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, and DePaul University, and has been on the faculty of the:

• Butler University Strings Scholars Camp
• Illinois Wesleyan University Cello Camp
• Marrowstone Summer Music Festival

She has given guest master classes at Indiana State University, University of Louisiana, Millikin University, the State University of New York at New Paltz, Montana State University, the Apollo Music Festival, and has been a Fellowship Mentor at the Britt Festival.

In her spare time, Ms. Marshall is a yoga practitioner, teacher, and student, and enjoys running, swimming, cross country skiing, and reading. She lives in Saint Paul, on Dakota Land, with her husband and son.

Education

• Master of Music: Cello Performance | DePaul University | Chicago, IL (2009)
• Certificate in Performance: Cello Performance | DePaul University | Chicago, IL (2011)
• Bachelor of Arts: Comparative History of Ideas, minor in History | University of Washington | Seattle, WA (2007)
• Bachelor of Arts: Music History and Theory, minor in Russian Literature | University of Washington | Seattle, WA (2007)