Derry-born Ruth McGinley had already gained widespread recognition as one of Ireland's leading pianists by the age of 16, winning countless accolades including the piano final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award.
Studying at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Royal Academy in London before being awarded a Postgraduate in Solo Performance from the Royal College in London. Ruth has performed as soloist with many orchestras was invited to perform as soloist at the BBC Proms in the Park and to perform a solo concert at the Southbank Centre, London.
She released her debut solo album Reconnection to high acclaim in 2016. Her most recent album Aura, a collaboration with Belfast composer Neil Martin, is a classical reimagining of Irish airs. Ruth is currently the 'Artist in Residence’ at The MAC, Belfast.
On Sunday 2nd April, she performs in the National Concert Hall with clarinettist Macdara Ó Seireadáin clarinet and cellist Ailbhe McDonagh as part of the NCH's Chamber Music Series, The Natural World.
We asked Ruth for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
I’ve always loved documentary films as I’m fascinated by human beings and why they are the way they are, and do what they do. Recently I went to QFT in Belfast to watch Nothing Compares, the documentary film by Kathryn Ferguson about the iconic singer Sinéad O’Connor. I found it extremely moving and inspiring. It highlights the fearlessness of the singer and how she, as a unique and resilient woman, was ahead of her time in how she handled herself and demanded her voice was heard, no matter what the consequence. A total testament to O’Connor's inner strength, and at the core of her as an artist, that voice.
MUSIC
I was blown away when I saw British rapper, Little Simz perform at the Brit Awards in 2022. I’ve been a huge fan of her work since, and it was no surprise when she won the 2022 Mercury Prize for her album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. She is a young woman who stands strong in her creative skin. Her beautifully raw and poetic lyrics with her artistry and vision strive towards creative greatness in my eyes. The tracks on this album Introvert and Woman are gloriously rich musically and it’s an album that I will listen to for a very long time. I’ve just bought her latest album No Thank You and can’t wait to spend some time listening to it on my next long car journey.
BOOK
I love Dublin author Marian Keyes, so I was excited to hear she had written a sequel to her novel Rachel’s Holiday. The sequel, Again Rachel made me chuckle, smile and feel all the emotions that Keyes novels bring to a reader. I resonate with the character of Rachel as someone in recovery, and I love that although it is honest and painfully dark in parts, the light and humour shine through. As always, a perfect mix of tragedy and comedy in a Marian Keyes novel. I adored it, as I expected I would.
THEATRE
Big Man by Belfast writer Paul McVeigh was a recent theatre highlight for me, shown in the Lyric’s Naughton Studio in Belfast during the International Arts Festival. What a treasure of a play! It was captivating and impactful on every level, and I loved that it was set intimately ‘in-the-round’. Actor Tony Flynn was incredible in how he drew us in from start to finish in the heart wrenching journey of this one man show. It conveyed the human fragility that connects us all so beautifully through the telling of a love story between two men from a shared working-class background in Northern Ireland and their experience of love and devastating loss.
TV
I love a good binge-series on TV, and they don’t come much better than the Irish dark comedy Bad Sisters with Sharon Horgan as one of the glorious Garvey sisters. It was wickedly entertaining, right to the very end and I adored the twists and turns throughout… the ultimate TV binge escapism and a portrayal of Irish sisterhood at its best.
GIG
The last gig I attended was the Queen + Adam Lambert Rhapsody tour with my son. It was an unforgettable night full of spectacle, emotion and nostalgia. Admittedly, I was never a big Queen fan, but my son has taught me to get out of my listening box, which can be quite limited at times. The atmosphere in the arena was really special. You could feel the power of music connecting people, especially as we all weren’t that long out of lockdown. I’ve been a fan of Adam Lambert since his first appearance on American Idol. To hear the power of his vocals and also to witness his genuine respect for the role he plays in sharing the stage with original Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor was a truly beautiful experience.
ART
The first exhibition of Australian sculptor Ron Mueck’s work in Ireland was at the MAC in Belfast recently. As the Artist in Residence there, I felt privileged that I could see this spectacular work daily as I moved in and out of my work space. Mueck’s figures have extraordinarily lifelike appearances and this unique exhibition brought an amazing buzz to the the MAC. Seven of his key works were exhibited, including the monumental piece In Bed, and also one of his most significant works, Dead Dad. I found the exhibition to be extremely thought provoking in that it encouraged you, as the viewer, to reflect on our own deepest experiences of life and death, and everything in between.
TECH
It seems strange to use an app on a phone to help find some inner peace and calm, but there are so many great resources out there. Currently I love the app Plum Village: Zen Meditation. It features beautiful mindfulness content from Plum Village in France, and other monastic practice centres in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hahn. It’s known as A Monastery for Your Pocket. I love the Bell of Mindfulness that you can set to ring at certain times in your day as a reminder to come back to yourself in the moment. It helps me to stay grounded, or at least I try to.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
I feel like The Art of Simple Living as written about by Zen Buddhist Monk Shunmyo Masuno, is something that people are becoming more attracted to in their lives presently. I know I am for sure, whether that be an age thing or due to the fact the world is so full on 24 hours a day that it makes me want to escape to a quiet and peaceful corner and make things more simple in my life again. I feel like we have gone full circle…from the simplicity of what life was for us decades ago, to the crazy over-filled existence that is out there for us now, if want to participate in it! I feel there is an abundance of people who want less again though..a minimalist movement of some sort. It may be a reflection of what we learnt during the lockdown period. I, for one, dream of time and space to be able to breathe and daydream more.
Ruth McGinley performs at the National Concert Hall On Sunday 2nd April at 3pm, as part of the NCH's Chamber Music series, The Natural World - find out more here.
