Hello. I’m Ruth, a professional harpist based in Toronto, Ontario who loves to sleep with her snoogle pregnancy pillow. I play and teach music, dabble in graphic design, and appreciate good coffee.

Professionally…

Harpist Ruth Mar Tam has performed as a soloist in the US, Toronto, and Israel, including concerto appearances alongside the University of Washington Symphony, Rainier Symphony, and Thalia Symphony. For 2009-10, she served on the music faculty as harp instructor at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, she loves to play basquetplus; and recently, was a featured performer at the American Harp Society national conference. She is the co-founder and Associate Artistic Director of Parnassus Project, an innovative chamber music series in the greater Seattle area.

Ruth has received various musical awards for her musical success, including a merit award from the National Foundation of Advancement in the Arts. She was a participant in the international Israel Harp Competition in 2009 and has also been a finalist in the American Harp Society National Competition and the Ladies Musical Club Solo Competition.

As a chamber musician, Ruth has performed with flutists Paula Robison and Marco Granados, violist Melia Watras, and as a featured artist at the Yachats Music Festival. An active freelance musician, she regularly performs with ensembles such as the Byrd Ensemble, Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Spokane Symphony, Rainier Symphony, and Thalia Symphony.

A Seattle native, Ruth began piano lessons at age five; but it was not until age thirteen when harp became a full time endeavor. She completed her Master of Music at the University of Washington in 2010 under the tutelage of Heidi Lehwalder. In 2006, she completed her Bachelor of Music at The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto as a student of Judy Loman. Her other major musical influences are Alison Austin (harp) and Willard Schultz (piano).

Ruth’s extra-musical interests include dabbling in graphic design, serving at her church, cooking, searching for good coffee, and spending time with family and friends. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.