Full Biography

Ruth Michel is a vocalist, music educator, and conductor from Lansdale, Pennsylvania. She began her vocal studies under Rodney Derstine, and sang with the Pennsylvania Girlchoir (now known as Commonwealth Youth Choir), joining them on their tour of Australia. She also participated in the Csehy Summer School of Music as a voice and cello student. Ruth went on to earn her bachelor's degree in Music Education with a voice concentration (classical and jazz) from Roberts Wesleyan University. During her time at Roberts, she assisted in conducting various choral ensembles, took on the role of music director for the university's opera production of Dido and Aeneas, and achieved runner-up status in Roberts Wesleyan's Concerto-Aria competition in both 2022 and 2023. Ruth also participated in multiple vocal and conducting masterclasses, notably a vocal masterclass with Dr. Sutherland from Eastman School of Music and the ACDA Eastern Region Undergraduate Conducting Masterclass with clinician Dr. Jeffrey Douma from Yale University. Ruth completed her master’s degree in Choral Conducting at Florida International University's Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music and Performing Arts. During her time in Florida, she served as a Graduate Assistant for the choral department at the university as well as a Teaching Assistant for the Miami Children's Chorus. She also taught voice lessons, piano lessons, and tutored many students in ear training. In the summer during her master’s, she participated as a conducting fellow in the Atlanta Summer Conducting Institute and performed recitals in Pennsylvania. Ruth continues to perform and aspires to foster an excellent level of music in students by serving as an educator in the Greater Philadelphia area.

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