US violinist Elena Urioste, British violist Timothy Ridout and Irish violist Ruth Gibson join the string faculty from September this year
London’s Royal Academy of Music (RAM) has announced the appointments of US violinist Elena Urioste, British violist Timothy Ridout and Irish violist Ruth Gibson to its string department as violin and viola professors respectively, assuming the positions in autumn this year.
Urioste was most recently among the academy’s honours cohort for this year, receiving honorary membership. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School, she has performed as soloist with top international orchestras.
Urioste is co-director of the acclaimed Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, which is currently an associate ensemble of Wigmore Hall, as well as founder and artistic director of Chamber Music by the Sea. Together with violinist Melissa White, she is co-founder of Intermission, a program combining music, movement and mindfulness to promote healthy and holistic practice.
‘I could not be more excited to join the team at the Royal Academy of Music! Alongside my performing career, I have loved teaching ever since I was a conservatory student myself and it means so much to me to now explore this facet of musical life in my adopted home of London,’ said Urioste.
‘The satisfaction of witnessing students’ real progress in action is at least equal to that of performing onstage — I can’t wait to incorporate my knowledge about breath work, mindfulness and alignment into my violin teaching in this new environment and I look forward to passing on the belief that the physical, mental and emotional processes of music-making should feel empowering and holistic.
A RAM alumnus, Ridout has previously served as visiting professor at the academy. Among his accolades, he has been the recipient of a Borletti Buitoni Trust Fellowship, a Royal Philharmonic Society Award, an Opus Klassik Young Instrumentalist of the Year Award in 2025 and was a BBC New Generation artist.
Highly sought-after as both a soloist and chamber musician, Ridout is currently engaged in a three-year residency at the Dortmund Konzerthaus and is involved with multiple programmes at the Wigmore Hall.
‘The Academy has been a musical home for me for more than half of my life, from my junior department time, through to my undergraduate studies and more recently as a visiting professor,’ said Ridout. ‘I am now looking forward to guiding some excellent young violists of the next generation through their musical journeys!’
Gibson has performed as the violist of the Castalian and Finzi quartets, the latter winning prizes at the Royal Over Seas League Competition and the Trondheim International String Quartet Competition; as a member of Chambr and Ensemble 360; and regularly serves as principal viola with the Aurora Orchestra, the Manchester Camerata and the City of London Sinfonia.
She is also professor of viola at the Royal Northern College of Music and is the founder of the String Quartet Collective.
‘I have long admired the Academy’s ethos of artistic integrity and commitment to their students,’ said Gibson. ‘I am honoured to join an incredible faculty of inspiring and dedicated musicians and look forward to working with the next generation of artists and supporting their individual voices in this ever-changing industry.’
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