ABOUT ME

Ruth Mudge, a former native of Connecticut, is a cello instructor and performer in the Western Suburbs of the Chicago area. She grew up playing both the piano and cello in a musical household, frequently playing with her mom and sister. Through that home and a variety of teachers, she received a passion and knowledge of music that she loves to pass along through teaching to a new generation of musicians and by sharing her musical gifts to her community.

Ruth is a current faculty member of the String Academy of Chicago on both cello and piano as well as the cello instructor at Naperville North and Central High Schools. She has received teacher training in the Suzuki method from Tanya Carey, combining it with other methods both newer and older to suit the needs of her students. She has had students in some of the top youth orchestras in the area including the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to teaching students in the Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, and Naperville areas, Ruth is the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. She has performed around  the Chicagoland area in concerts and gigs ranging from weddings to retirement homes to home concerts. She loves to share both classical music as well as participating on a worship music band at her local church. She enjoys to play in collaboration with other musicians such as piano, cello, harp, and many more.

Besides performing and teaching, Ruth loves to explore other ways of sharing music such as arranging, writing original songs, and teaching classes on movie soundtracks, all of which stem from a love of music and a desire to give that back to the world. Ruth is also the host for the podcast "World of Soundtracks."  
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Ruth received her Masters of Music at DePaul University and her Bachelors of Music from Wheaton College, studying with teachers such as Stephen Balderston, Tanya Carey, and Daniel Davies. Ruth was an Associate Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in 2009-10 and participated in their MusiCorps program presenting chamber music throughout Chicago. She plays a 2005 Goronok cello and has been the only owner of “Monti.”