Ruana has a lifelong passion to sing with a love of the land and spirit. She runs The Song of Now which offers a variety of singing retreats, workshops and song circles that are fully inclusive, no experience required!

Through Vocal Improvisation Ruana allows you to unleash your creativity, your bravery and your authentic voice in an embodied way.  You will be guided in how to express the song of now through connection with your body and trusting your vocal intuition and impulses. Ruana creates a safe, caring and gentle space which allows you to feel confident to express yourself fully.

Ruana has trained with worldwide leaders in vocal improvisation including Rhiannon, Guillermo Rozenthuler, Briony Greenhill, Kate Smith and is currently undertaking the two year training with Musica Do Circulo. She was fortunate to be granted the ‘Developing Your Creative Practice’ award from The Arts Council and The Song of Now came out of her deep dive into the world of vocal improvisation. The Song of Now has won awards including ‘Community Singing Programme of the Year’ and ‘Vocal Improvisation Excellence Award’ for Worcestershire from Midlands Enterprise Awards 2026.

Ruana now travels nationally leading her own style of vocal improvisation and has been involved with many collaborations including FEAST arts festival, Join the Song, Singing for Joy – Rewilding the Voice, We Sing The River’s Voice with composer Liz Dilnot, River Lamentations and created Synthesis with 5Rhythms teacher Neil Pinnock and breath worker Nathalia Westmacott. Ruana is a member of the Natural Voice Network and The Well – Global Improvisation Network.

Ruana writes her own chants and songs and you can find some of these here

Ruana created Signs and Sounds which is a baby and toddler sign language and singing class that has been running since 2014. The class has won several awards including ‘Best Baby and Toddler Sign Language Class Provider – West Midlands’ from Midlands Enterprise Awards in 2025 and 2026. Ruana continues leading the class once per week as she loves it so much. You can find out more here

Ruana also leads Music Shakers one day per week which is a music and singing class for babies and toddlers which she also loves and she has been running this since 2015. You can find out more here.

Ruana’s previous careers include running the Quaker Youth Theatre and assisting with The Birmingham Rep youth theatre, Volunteer Programme Manager for 7 years with The National Deaf Children’s Society, working as a Sign Language interpreter and leading multiple choirs including Rainbow Voices, Birmingham’s LGBT+ choir.

Ruana has worked on many commissions and collaborations with other artists, families and organisations. If you’re interested in a project with any of the above skills you can contact Ruana here

Testimonials

This weekend was a magical symbiosis of improvised song! I felt like a particle in the collective consciousness, individual but interwoven by sounds and voice. The way that Ruana holds space is like no one else – the perfect balance of holding and sharing her skills, knowledge & passion for singing. Magic!

“Ruana you are a leader in love. A pure example of kindness. Your skill, care and strength will help us all transform the world. This is so much more than a singing retreat.”

This retreat was an amazing and profound experience – a perfect combination of practical skills and forms in a wonderfully and skillfully held space and magical land.

“Through Ruana’s retreat I have felt safe enough to touch the fragile, sensitive, frightened parts of myself and allow them to come forward and be honoured and to shine my light on them and integrate those suppressed parts to come into wholeness and well being. Blessed Be.”

I feel blissfully contented and nurtured, like I’ve just received a huge hug from the combined energy of everyone’s voices.

The singing was divine and transformative. I’m taking home deep clarity, transformation, reconnection and a clear path forward.