Aaron Dworkin
Encyclopedia
Aaron Paul Dworkin is an African American violin
ist, and music educator.
to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they decided to give their son up for adoption. When he was two weeks old, Barry and Susan Dworkin, who both were New York City College professors, with a specialization in neuroscience
, adopted him. Barry and Susan had another son as well. Susan had been an amateur violinist before Aaron's adoption, and when he was about five, she began to play again. She would play Bach
pieces and gave him an interest in playing. In Manhattan, he took lessons from Vladimir Graffman.
At age 10, his parents moved the family from Manhattan to Hershey, Pennsylvania
because his parents got jobs at the Hershey Medical Center.
He attended the Peabody Institute
and Philadelphia's New School of Music. By his teens, he was performing regularly with the Hershey Youth Orchestra and the Harrisburg Youth Symphony. For his junior and senior year of high school, he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, after his parents convinced him he needed to change. He had been unhappy about attending his other high school due to some prejudice based on his race.
He then decided to move to Michigan. He worked until he attained enough funds to attend the University of Michigan
. He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, with a Bachelors (in 1997) and Masters (in 1998) of Music in Violin Performance, graduating with high honors.
, he realized the lack of the minorties involved in classical music. He created the Sphinx Organization
to help reflect the diversity in the United States in orchestras. He is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization.
He was a Member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, and music educator.
Early life
Aaron Paul Dworkin was born on September 11, 1970 in Monticello, New YorkMonticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they decided to give their son up for adoption. When he was two weeks old, Barry and Susan Dworkin, who both were New York City College professors, with a specialization in neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, adopted him. Barry and Susan had another son as well. Susan had been an amateur violinist before Aaron's adoption, and when he was about five, she began to play again. She would play Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
pieces and gave him an interest in playing. In Manhattan, he took lessons from Vladimir Graffman.
At age 10, his parents moved the family from Manhattan to Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
because his parents got jobs at the Hershey Medical Center.
He attended the Peabody Institute
Peabody Institute
The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University is a renowned conservatory and preparatory school located in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland at the corner of Charles and Monument Streets at Mount Vernon Place.-History:...
and Philadelphia's New School of Music. By his teens, he was performing regularly with the Hershey Youth Orchestra and the Harrisburg Youth Symphony. For his junior and senior year of high school, he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, after his parents convinced him he needed to change. He had been unhappy about attending his other high school due to some prejudice based on his race.
College career
Dworkin enrolled at Penn State where he was concertmaster for the Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra. He was enrolled as a business major though, and he withdrew without earning a degree because of financial reasons.He then decided to move to Michigan. He worked until he attained enough funds to attend the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, with a Bachelors (in 1997) and Masters (in 1998) of Music in Violin Performance, graduating with high honors.
Career
Inspired by the works of William Grant StillWilliam Grant Still
William Grant Still was an African-American classical composer who wrote more than 150 compositions. He was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera performed by a major...
, he realized the lack of the minorties involved in classical music. He created the Sphinx Organization
Sphinx Organization
The Sphinx Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of young Black and Latino classical musicians. Based in Detroit, Michigan, it was founded by the American violinist Aaron Dworkin...
to help reflect the diversity in the United States in orchestras. He is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization.
He was a Member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee.
Awards
- 2003 Michigan Governors Award for Arts & Culture
- 2003 Michiganian of the Year, Detroit News
- 2005 MacArthur Fellows ProgramMacArthur Fellows ProgramThe MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
- 2006 Newsweek Giving Back Award
- MLK Spirit Award
External links
- "Raisin’ the Buzz: At the table with Aaron Dworkin", innovate2uplift, January 28, 2009