Ruth Ayres Harris
Ruth Ayres Harris
Live Acoustic Music for Concerts, Events & Wedding Ceremonies | Aberdeenshire & Moray
Over 35+ years of performing I have collected over 150 x 5 star reviews ( collated across agencies in both England, Italy & France)
I provide professional solo acoustic flute, piano and violin performances for wedding ceremonies, concerts and events across Aberdeenshire and Moray
All performances are completely unplugged and acoustic. No digital pre-recorded sets, backing tracks, live auto tuning, lip sync/miming, microphones, fake grand piano shells, electronic keyboards or amplifiers. Just a genuine acoustic rich deep warm sound of a grand piano plus the ethereal romantic tone of a solid silver/gold professional concert flute & a French 19th Century violin.
As a former orchestral player & soloist for BBC Cymru, I specialise in the ceremony window - covering the prelude, the processional, the signing of the register & the recessional. I am fully insured and a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) and the Musicians' Union. I have 35 years performing experience
'Your playing was perfect for our wedding at Leeds Castle. Thank you for all your close attention to detail and for endeavouring to fulfil all our musical requests'
Charles & Lucy Hobart
Archived screenshots of reviews in England & France
Ceremony Packages (£350 – £550)
A wedding ceremony has different chapters—from the anticipation of your guests arriving, to the emotion of walking down the aisle, the quiet signing of the register, and the celebration as you walk out together. Because I play piano, flute, and violin, different musical textures can be chosen to match the mood of each moment. To keep things straightforward, my core packages are:
Solo Piano (£350): If your venue has a tuned acoustic piano, this covers your whole ceremony from guest arrival right through to your exit together. It is a beautiful, classic option for a warm, timeless atmosphere. (If your venue doesn't have a piano, don't worry—we can easily chat about flute or violin options instead, or look into local piano hire).
Solo Flute (£450): Solo flute has an incredible resonance and ethereal quality that sounds stunning on its own, echoing beautifully in historic Aberdeenshire castles and churches.
Flute, Violin & Piano (£550): My most popular choice. I play the three instruments for different parts of your service. This will give you tonal variety and emotional shift between different parts of the ceremony, but with a much smaller footprint and price in comparison to hiring an ensemble.
Every venue and wedding is unique. If you are interested in other combinations—such as a blend of just flute and piano, or flute and violin etc —I am always happy to mix and match to fit your day. Please get in touch with your venue and date to chat about what you have in mind.
What is Included with Every Booking
To make sure everything runs flawlessly on the day, every ceremony booking always includes:
A Personal Planning Meeting to finalize your timeline and to choose your perfect pieces
Repertoire Advice: recommendations to ensure the acoustic textures match the unique layout and natural echo of your specific venue.
Additional Services available on request:
If you would like to add an extra layer of magic to your wedding journey I can provide a studio recording of wedding ceremony songs delivered digitally after the wedding as a keepsake
Piano Accompaniment & Collaborations
I can accompany and support the confidence of your guests, singers or other instrumentalists on the piano for part of the ceremony, for the whole ceremony or for the entire wedding day and I have a music studio available for a rehearsal beforehand. Please enquire for details
I am also of course very happy to play with other musicians - for example: harpists, guitarists, string players on flute or piano
*Please note - there is an additional travel charge of 50p per mile and a non refundable deposit is required to reserve the date
Wedding and Concert Venues covered in Aberdeenshire & Moray
My performances rely entirely on natural sound without digital amplification or technical enhancement so my repertoire is specifically suited to the exceptional natural acoustics of castles, ballrooms and stately homes such as:
Historic Castles & Stately Homes:
Craigston Castle
Fyvie Castle
Innes House
Cluny Castle
Fasque House
Drumtochty Castle
Gordon Castle Estate
Castle Fraser
Drum Castle
Country Houses, Barns and Estates
Netherdale House
Macdonald Pittrodrie Houae
Logie Country House
Aswanley
Meldrum House Country Hotel
Coos' Cathedral
Glen Tanar Ballroom
Cathedrals and Churches
St Andrew's Cathedral.
St Machar's Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral
St Palladius Church
The Old Church of Urquart
If your venue is not listed above please get in touch to discuss the logistics and requirements for your specific location
Funerals & Memorials
Live music for funeral services and celebration-of-life events. Repertoire can be arranged for solo piano or flute depending on the venue. Fees are based on standard Musicians' Union guidelines. Please contact me to check diary availability.
Functions & Larger Events
Available for private parties, corporate dinners, and civic functions. Rates follow standard Musicians' Union gig guidelines. Please get in touch for a quote based on your event requirements
Community & Care Recitals
I play live music for older audiences and community spaces, offering reduced daytime rates for local senior residences, care settings, and community groups. Please contact me to discuss availability.
Contact & Booking
To check availability for an event date and venue please get in touch via my contact form (link below) or email me at ruthayresharris@gmx.co.uk