Ruth Padel has published ten poetry collections most recently Learning to Make an Oud in Nazareth on creativity and conflict, and is known for her lyrical voice and singing line. Prose books include a study of the influence of Greek myth on rock music and opera, and much-loved works on reading contemporary poetry based on a column she wrote in the Independent on Sunday. She has sung in the Schola Cantorum of Oxford, the choir of St Eustache in Paris, the Town Choir of Heraklion, Crete, and an Istanbul nightclub. She has presented a programme in BBC 3’s series ‘The Choir’ and has written the lyrics for Michael Zev Gordon’s prize-winning choral composition Allele. Her awards include a Cholmondeley Award for poetry and First Prize in the National Poetry Competition. She was first Writer in Residence at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, is Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Poetry Fellow at King’s College London.

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