RuthE. Wells
Music Director
Office: 415-383-5272 x213
RuthE grew up in rural North Dakota and hailed from a family deeply involved in church and civic choirs. Her journey as a choral director began in Friday Harbor, Washington, where she spent nine years before returning to the Bay Area in 2007. In her role, RuthE assumed primary responsibility for the choral music program and oversaw the music for worship services, although hymn selection rested with the preachers. Church music had been an enduring presence in RuthE's life, a tradition passed down through four generations, serving both as a platform for her musical craftsmanship and a means to express her faith.
With a master's degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University, RuthE's daytime career had predominantly revolved around the arts and nonprofit sector. She had a period of specialization in governance, offering support to boards of trustees at organizations like the San Francisco Opera and later the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Her talents also extended to promotional writing for various organizations and projects, but since 2010, she transitioned into more general administrative roles. As of 2022, RuthE embarked on a new path as an ombudsman, advocating for residents in long-term care facilities in Sonoma County.
Her day job provided the means to sustain her parallel life as a choral musician. Family lore suggested that RuthE had sung before she spoke, and she had remained both a soloist and choral singer throughout her life. Initially hesitant about music leadership, RuthE had wholeheartedly embraced it since 2000, relishing the opportunity to teach others the joys of choral singing. It was around the same time that she began to explore the realm of choral composition. Creating music for worship, ranging from simple meditative chants to expressive choral anthems, had become one of the most fulfilling aspects of RuthE's life.