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."
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".
In 2010, the program had 115 students, 51% Latino and 16% African-American.
Ruth's concept for Community MusicWorks "is to be as intrinsic to the fabric of a community as a clinic, library or church." 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."
Ruth is a 1997 graduate of Brown University and a faculty member at the Yale School of Music.
He also received a 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from Michelle Obama.
In 2012, Strings Magazine listed him as among "the 25 most influential people in the string music world".
References
- ^ "Community engagement: Sebastian Ruth". Yale School of Music. Yale University.
- 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.
- 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.
- ^ "Violinist and Pianist win MacArthur "Genius" Grants". WQXR. Newark, New Jersey. September 28, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
- "MacArthur Fellows / Meet the Class of 2010: Sebastian Ruth - Violist, Violinist, and Music Educator". MacArthur Foundation. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 2010.