MARIAM RUETSCHI
VIOLIN/VIOLA
Mariam Ruetschi is a sought after viola soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player, as well being a dedicated viola and violin teacher specialising in teaching the younger generation.
As both soloist and chamber musician Mariam has appeared in many major festivals across Europe, including Champéry in Switzerland, Bergerac in France, Thornham and Presteigne festivals in England and at the International Chamber Music Festival in Kharkov, Ukraine. Concerto performances in London include ‘Harold in Italy’ by Berlioz and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, both at St John’s Smith Square. Mariam performed the Concertante more recently with Joshua Fisher in Frick, Switzerland.
Mariam performs with some of the leading orchestras in the UK and Ireland. She has appeared as guest viola principal of the London Chamber Orchestra and the RTE Symphony Orchestra as well as co-principal of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra. After the birth of her daughter Nina in 2013, Mariam mainly concentrates her work in London and is regularly engaged with the Royal Opera House Orchestra and London Chamber Orchestra.
Born in Baden, Switzerland, Mariam grew up in Geneva, studying at the Geneva and Lausanne Conservatoires where her teachers were Judith Berenson, a former student of Heifetz, and Omer Sipahi. After attending the Dartington Festival Course in 2001, Mariam moved to London that year, having won a full scholarship to study with Philip Dukes at Trinity College of Music, where she twice won the prestigious Band/Kurz Viola Prize. She gained a scholarship to undertake a Postgraduate in Performance at the Royal Academy of Music from 2005-6 and subsequently continued her studies with Andriy Viytovych.
Mariam has taught at the Music’All in Fulham from 2007 and is currently teaching at London’s Harrow School, one of the UK’s leading independent schools, as well as privately from home in North West London. She is grateful to the Dénéréaz Foundation for their support in acquiring her instrument by the modern French maker Jean-Louis Prochasson.