From Singer to Strategist

With one foot in the arts sector and the other in business innovation, Ruth Hartt is rebuilding cultural audiences through a radically customer-first model.

Merging nearly two decades as an opera singer with deep expertise in customer-centric innovation, Ruth equips arts organizations with the strategies they need to reverse audience decline and spark new growth.

Ruth’s strategic vision is shaped by eight years’ immersion in innovation frameworks at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a globally recognized authority on business and social transformation.

Drawing on this interdisciplinary foundation, Ruth brings together powerful perspective shifts and actionable insights to transform how arts organizations create lasting relevance in a changing world.

Raised in rural blue-collar Maine, Ruth brings a grounded and empathetic perspective to her work. Her approach blends artistic expertise, nonprofit acumen, and a profound understanding of customer needs—alongside a strategic lens for rethinking old models and unlocking new possibilities.

As a professional opera singer, Ruth earned numerous accolades, including 1st Prize in the American Prize for Vocal Performance in Art Song. She performed with OperaMaine’s Young Artist Program and was selected for the prestigious Gerdine Young Artist Program at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Since transitioning from the stage, Ruth is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. Recent engagements include BBC Radio 3, the League of American Orchestras, Chorus America, and PAC Australia (APAX).

Holding dual certification in digital marketing from both the American Marketing Association and the Digital Marketing Institute, Ruth earned her M.M. in vocal performance at Boston University and her B.Mus in music education from Houghton College.

Today, she lives on the coast of southern Maine with her husband and son.

Trusted by Leading Arts Organizations

Ruth’s workshops, partnerships, and online offerings have attracted forward-thinking leaders from organizations such as English National Opera, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Melbourne Recital Centre, Pacific Symphony, the National Arts Centre of Canada, the Belgian National Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and Chamber Music Detroit.

Training & Certification

Certified Digital Marketing Professional
Digital Marketing Institute

Professional Certified Marketer®
American Marketing Association

M.M. Vocal Performance
Boston University

BMus Music Education
Houghton College

Business Innovation
Clayton Christensen Institute

  • “Audience Alchemy completely changed the way we talked about our concert series. By implementing the customer-first model, we MORE THAN DOUBLED ATTENDANCE at a recent concert compared to our past season’s average.”

    – George Fergus, Director of Music, Christ Church Episcopal, Savannah

  • “What I have learned from you has been SO VALUABLE. Nearly 1,100 people took part in our inaugural weekend! The turnout exceeded all expectations and I am so grateful for your approachable, actionable teachings.”

    —Tekla Cunningham, Founder, Seattle Bach Festival

  • "Ruth ignited our marketing, development, programming and venue hire teams with excellent, tangible recommendations that will now play a critical role in Melbourne Recital Centre’s next chapter."

    —Latoyah Forsyth, Head of Marketing and Visitor Experience, Melbourne Recital Centre

  • "Ruth has an extraordinary vision for arts marketing, and the arts sector needs it now."

    —Mark Schaefer, Author of Marketing Rebellion and Belonging to the Brand

  • "This may well be the salvation that audience-hungry arts marketers are searching for."

    —Trevor O’Donnell, Author of Marketing the Arts to Death

  • "For any org wanting to center their customer and community, Ruth's thinking on this topic is hands down the best I've ever seen."

    —Aubrey Bergauer, Changing the Narrative

  • “Ruth is a champion for your patrons. She sets aside all of the expertise and just asks one simple question: What matters to your customers? It's revolutionary.”

    —Sean Kelly, Founder, Vatic

  • "...an incredible thought leader. Ruth's insight is what we need to hear as a sector right now. "

    —Sarah Weber, Executive Director, Association of California Symphony Orchestras

  • "So grateful that Ruth is not only putting the Jobs to Be Done framework out there, but also providing illustrations on how to enact it."

    —Timothy Myers, Music Director, Austin Opera and Music Director, Spoleto Festival USA

  • “The room was vibrating during Ruth’s Chorus America plenary...lightbulbs were going off, pens were furiously writing.”

    —Alex Gartner, Artistic & Executive Director, Pensacola Children’s Chorus

  • “Thank you for delivering two remarkable presentations. Your work is transformative!”

    —Kevin Eberle-Noel, Executive Director, Redlands Symphony

  • "You were spectacular and opened up a host of necessary questions with which we need to grapple. It was a terrific session."

    —Nick Adams, Executive Director, Cantata Singers

  • “This is one of the most, if not the most, important presentations in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

    —Thomas Cooke, President, Voce