Mrs. Ruth (Lindgren) Livengood grew up in Three Oaks, Michigan, a product of the acclaimed River Valley Band Program under the direction of Tom Crowner and Bob Hay. Born into a talented, musical family, she studied music as an integral part of her early education, first on piano with instructor Bonnie Miner and later on trombone. Mrs. Livengood credits Ed Bagatini, local jazz trombonist, as well as Daniel McCarthy, private instructor, for giving her an extensive education in trombone in her teenage years. Beyond High School, Mrs. Livengood attended Western Michigan University, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education in 2006, and Master's Degree in Trombone Performance in 2008. She studied with the internationally renowned and accredited trombone instructor Steve Wolfinbarger there. During here time at WMU, Mrs. Livengood won an Honorable Mention in the International Trombone Association's Larry Wiehe Competition, and also taught courses as a part of the Graduate Assistant's Program there, in addition to performing in multiple, advanced-level collegiate ensembles. Mrs. Livengood has recorded music for Grammy-Award winning musician Lucia Parker, with the group "Brass a' Fire" and has maintained a private trombone studio. She taught band at Berrien Springs Public Schools before coming to Brandywine, where she currently teaches. Mrs. Livengood currently performs with Ed Bagatini and the Dynabones, and multiple other ensembles throughout Southwest Michigan and Indiana. In her free time, she obviously enjoys music, spending time with her family, and studying history.