Ruth Bennett

Ruth Bennett joined the Conservatory in 2022 and is assistant professor of harp.

Hailed as “a very solid musician with a beautiful tone and impressively refined playing” (Bart van Oort), she is highly regarded as a versatile and engaging artist and has performed throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Japan. 

Recently relocated back to New York after fifteen years playing in the Yucatán Symphony Orchestra in Mexico, she maintains an active schedule between the U.S. and Latin America, appearing frequently as soloist, chamber musician, and educator. She has performed with American Ballet Theater and the Metropolitan Opera, as guest principal harpist with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (U.K.) and played in several on- and off-Broadway shows.

Bennett recently collaborated with Björk as a member of her ensemble during her Cornucopia album tour throughout Europe, England, and Mexico City. 

A consistent prize winner in the competition circuit, Bennett won Third Prize at the second Dutch International Harp Competition (2012), where she performed Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez” in the final stage with the Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht conducted by Johannes Leertouwer.

She also received First Prize in the 2009 edition of the National Harp Competition in Mexico City and awards at the American Harp Society National Contest.

Born in England to a musical family, Bennett began her studies at the piano but was eventually persuaded to learn the harp with her grandmother, a former student of Carlos Salzedo. She holds a bachelor’s degree in performance from Crane School of Music at S.U.N.Y. Potsdam, a master’s degree in performance and performer’s certificate from Eastman School of Music, where she was awarded the Eileen Malone Scholarship, and a Professional Studies Certificate in Orchestral Performance from Manhattan School of Music, under the tutelage of Deborah Hoffman.