Ruth MerendaDirector of Community Events
(845) 657-8333 x28
Ruth was raised in West Hurley, NY and attended Onteora High School. She graduated from Bard College in 1997 with a BA in Drama/Dance, and has spent over two decades as a touring musician and recording artist in the band The Mammals. She co-founded the Winter & Summer Hoot, Ashokan's bi-annual community music festivals, with her partner Mike Merenda in 2013 and began to work full time at Ashokan in 2018. She leads the Public Events team in curating and producing cultural and educational workshops, concerts, camps, and festivals throughout the year. These include our Music & Dance Camps, originally founded by her family in 1982. She is passionate about inter-generational experiences in nature and art, loves connecting with our rich local community, and is excited to make all of Ashokan's public events accessible to as many folks as possible through initiatives like free or flexible pricing and Pay it Forward scholarships.