Born in England, Ruth Fazal began her musical studies on the piano and the violin, attending Dartington College for the Arts, before going on to graduate from the Guildhall School of Music in London. Further studies on the violin took Ruth to Paris, France. Since emigrating to Canada, and living in Toronto, Ruth has performed with all of the major orchestras in the city, as well as being actively involved in many chamber music ensembles. Ruth also uses her skills on the violin to create a place for people to enter in to the presence of God. The ‘Songs from the River’ series are ever popular, finding their way not only into people’s homes, but also into prayer rooms, healing rooms, doctors offices and therapeutic massage clinics and spas. This soothing instrumental music touches the hearts of all those who listen.
The year 2000 marked a turning point in Ruth’s life, as she began working on what she calls a ‘Divine Commision’. Oratorio Terezin is a work for soloists, choirs and symphony orchestra, and was premiered in 2003 in Toronto, followed by tours in Europe, Israel and the US. Oratorio Terezin is based on the poetry of children from the Holocaust combined with portions of the scriptures. Describing this divine commission as a ‘suddenly’, Ruth explains that the writing of Oratorio Terezin was the doorway that God chose for her to enter into His heart for His people Israel. In all the performances, Holocaust survivors were in attendance as honoured guests. “He will rejoice over you with singing; He will quiet you with His love” – Zeph.3:1
Ruth loves the prophetic, and sees all that she does, whether playing or singing, to be a means of expressing the heart of our Heavenly Father to a world that is in so many ways crying out to see Him and feel His Presence. Ruth continues to lead worship and to speak wherever she is invited, always with the focus on Intimacy with the Father through our Beloved Jesus, and with the desire to impart something of the Father’s heart for His people Israel, through her music.
Ruth has written several classical works for orchestra, choir and soloists. The Seven Last Words of Christ – for orchestra, spoken voice, and violin solo is a meditation through music, using the final statements that Jesus spoke from the Cross. The music , together with poetry provides a place for a powerful encounter with the Lord in the place of His suffering and sacrifice. An instrumental version of The Seven Last Words is also available.
Awakening – A Symphonic Vision is written for symphony orchestra and choirs. This piece invites us to engage our imaginations as we hear the sound of a distant trumpet, awakening us to the urgency of the hour in which we live. The Trumpeter calls us to come away with Him, and through the music we are then ushered into an entirely new realm until finally, in the place of worship, we become aware of the sound of all creation groaning. In the midst of this groaning, God’s voice sings out: “Comfort My people! Speak tenderly to Jerusalem”
Ezekiel Out of Exile Ruth’s most recent composition for soloists, choir and symphony orchestra is a re-telling of Ezekiel the Prophet’s vision of the valley of the dry bones. The World Premiere of ‘Ezekiel Out of Exile’ took place in Israel in November 2020.
