Aaron Dworkin

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Aaron Dworkin
Born (1970-09-11) September 11, 1970
Monticello, New York
Genres Classical
Occupations Violinist, Activist, Administrator
Instruments Violin
Years active fl. ca. 1980s–present

Aaron Paul Dworkin (September 11, 1970) is an American violinist, and music educator.[1]

Early life

Dworkin was born on September 11, 1970 in Monticello, New York to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they were forced 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.[2] In Manhattan, he took lessons from Vladimir Graffman.[3] His biological father was of Irish descent and his biological mother was African-American, while his adoptive family was Jewish.[4]

At age 10, his parents moved the family from Manhattan to Hershey, Pennsylvania because his parents got jobs at the Hershey Medical Center.[5]

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.[3] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[7]

Career

Inspired by the works of William Grant Still, he realized the lack of the minorities involved in classical music. He created the Sphinx Organization to help reflect the diversity in the United States in orchestras.[7] He is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization.[8][9]

He was a Member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee.[10]

Awards

  • 2003 Michigan Governors Award for Arts & Culture
  • 2003 Michiganian of the Year, Detroit News
  • 2005 MacArthur Fellows Program [11][12]
  • 2006 Newsweek Giving Back Award
  • MLK Spirit Award

Discography

  • Ebony Rhythm Ethnovibe
  • Bar-Talk. Ethnovibe

References

  1. ↑ http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/dworkin.html
  2. ↑ "Aaron Dworkin 1970-". Biography Today (Omnigraphics, Inc.) 16 (2): 38. 2007. ISSN 1058-2347. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Biography Today, p. 40
  4. ↑ http://www.hamptons.com/Out-And-About/For-The-Cause/18599/Diversity-Affluence-Awards-Brunch-At-B.-Smiths.html
  5. ↑ Biography Today, p.39
  6. ↑ Biography Today, p. 41
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Biography Today, p. 42
  8. ↑ http://www.sphinxmusic.org/about/staff.html
  9. ↑ http://www.polyphonic.org/contributor.php?id=83
  10. ↑ http://www.rosettathurman.com/2010/02/28-days-of-black-nonprofit-leaders-aaron-dworkin/
  11. ↑ http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.1076861/apps/nl/content2.asp?content_id={AEE208A4-102D-490E-B927-F072B9146991}&notoc=1
  12. ↑ http://www.macarthurfellows.org/Fellows2005/contents/longbios/dworkin_aaron.htm

External links

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