Ruth Ideen-Sall
Ruth is the daughter of a life-long church musician and grew up singing in her mother’s children’s choirs. Originally from Wyoming, Ruth began her own singing career in the Grace Lutheran Church Junior Choir and the Casper Children’s Chorale. It was in high school when she attended a month-long summer music camp, Lutheran Summer Music, that Ruth found her vocation as a singer and a teacher of singing, as well as serving the church. In 2008, Ruth joined the music staff at Abington Presbyterian Church as the Children’s Choir Director. Working with the graded children’s choir program and leading weekly music exploration for the 120 children of Abington Presbyterian Nursery School first introduced Ruth to the musical life of children at APC.
Ruth began to work with the Children’s Ministry program at Abington Presbyterian Church in 2011. Her background as a teacher and years of learning at the hands of wonderful pastors, Christian educators and musicians made the transition easy. Ruth enjoys working with the dedicated volunteers at APC to create a wonderful place of welcome for all children in worship, Sunday School, mission and fellowship. Coordinating with intergenerational groups has been Ruth’s passion since beginning work with children’s ministry. Ruth enjoys the excitement of our Homecoming celebration in September, the joy of the church picnic in June, and many other congregational activities that bring children and families together with congregants of all ages.
A graduate of St. Olaf College (Minn.) with a degree in vocal performance, Ruth’s solo voice career as an art song, opera, and oratorio soloist developed alongside her children’s choir conducting career. Ruth brings abiding energy to a holistic approach to singing, using many different paths to help children find their true, full singing sound. Her care for children is evident as she employs music as a means to help them find their voice, to discover a connection to their Creator, and to build a foundation of scripture through text. Ruth is on the executive committee of the Greater Philadelphia Choristers Guild chapter serving as president in 2017-18. She has been children’s choir clinician at Massanetta Springs’ Worship and Music Camp.
