Sebastian Ruth is an American violinist, violist, and music educator, and a 2010 MacArthur Fellow, receiving the award for "forging a new, multifaceted role beyond the concert hall for the twenty-first-century musician."[1]

He is the founder of Community MusicWorks in Providence, Rhode Island, which works with young people in Providence neighborhoods “teaching them how to play string instruments".[2]

In 2010, the program had 115 students, 51% Latino and 16% African-American.[3]

Ruth's concept for Community MusicWorks "is to be as intrinsic to the fabric of a community as a clinic, library or church."[4] Accordingly, the group "provides its students – who range from elementary to high school – with a long-term instrument loan, mentoring relationships with teachers, as well as opportunities through workshops and field trips."[4]

Ruth is a 1997 graduate of Brown University and a faculty member at the Yale School of Music.[1]

He also received a 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from Michelle Obama.[1]

In 2012, Strings Magazine listed him as among "the 25 most influential people in the string music world".[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Community engagement: Sebastian Ruth". Yale School of Music. Yale University.
  2. ^ Etter, Lauren (September 28, 2010). "Genius Gets Its Reward: Bee Breeder, 'The Wire' Writer and 21 Others Win $500,000 MacArthur Grants". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  3. ^ Schoenbaum, David (2012). The Violin: A Social History of the World's Most Versatile Instrument. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 284. ISBN 9780393089608. Sebastian Ruth MacArthur.
  4. ^ a b "Violinist and Pianist win MacArthur "Genius" Grants". WQXR. Newark, New Jersey. September 28, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  5. ^ "MacArthur Fellows / Meet the Class of 2010: Sebastian Ruth - Violist, Violinist, and Music Educator". MacArthur Foundation. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 2010.