Links to my work and music, bio, and audience feedback.
What people have said about my theatrical music work:
“A true original.” Mel Mercier "What a lovely video! You are a star!" “A marvellous example of the best of hybrid cultures” “Loved it. Can't wait to hear more 'aye aye aye' ” "I think this project is EXTREMELY timely, and VERY welcome, so more strength to your elbow!" |
Bio
Ruti Lachs is an experienced and versatile performer, music educationist, and composer, who moved to Cork in 2017, after living in County Kerry for 28 years. She is from Liverpool originally. She plays piano accordion, piano, and trombone, and sings. She also plays violin, guitar, ukulele, and tin whistle. Her current band, Fresh Air Collective, have performed in many, mostly outdoor, venues over the last 3 years. In 2022, Ruti received an Agility Award from the Irish Arts Council to compose a suite of klezmer pieces with Irish trad, jazz and other influences, and to arrange for small ensemble. These are currently being completed and will be performed in summer 2023. In 2020-21, Ruti developed her writing with an Agility Award from the Irish Arts Council, and completed writing a new play A Bedtime Story for Adults. She also wrote a short sketch, The Reluctant Wedding Guests. In 2018-19, Ruti toured her second one-woman show, A Different Kettle. Her shows are theatrical, musical, and funny. In 2017, Ruti received an Individual Artist Bursary from Cork County Council Arts Office, to work on a large-scale serious musical play, Green Feather Boa, set in a Jewish community in Cork in the early twentieth century. To date, the play is complete and seeking a producer. Parts have been performed as a work-in-progress at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Cork City Council Millenium Hall, and the Theatre Development Centre, Cork. In 2016, Ruti started performing her first one-woman show, Sideways on Planet Piano, for which she received a Creative Development Bursary from Kerry County Council Arts Office. She has performed the show in 18 intimate venues around Cork, Kerry, and Clare. In 2014, Ruti completed an MA in Community Music from University of Limerick. During the year of her masters, she was a participant in the Limerick Jazz Workshop. She has also been involved in the Sligo Jazz Project, as participant and as evening jam co-ordinator. Ruti works as a piano teacher (Cork City Music College) and community musician (Cork County Libraries, schools, and arts events). In 2013 she produced a CD of original songs for children, Stomping in the Woods. She presented research on early years music to the Society of Music Educators of Ireland conference in 2013, 2014. In 2016 she presented a workshop to the conference, on using children’s literature in composing with groups. Ruti formed Happiness Runs community music group in Killarney, as well as numerous youth music projects. Ruti facilitates children’s workshops, and occasionally a show for children, Stomping in Wonderland, with original songs based on the Alice in Wonderland story. Ruti has been in folk, klezmer, funk, and jazz bands including Quangodelic, Rumpus, FaBaRu, and The Fireflies, as well as being a solo performer. In 2003, she was one of the instigators of Ireland’s first Klezmer band, The Fireflies. In 2004 she produced a solo CD of original songs, Sleeping People. |