Aaron Dworkin

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Aaron Dworkin
Born (1970-09-11) September 11, 1970 (age 53)
Monticello, New York, U.S.
Alma mater University of Michigan
TitleFounder of the Sphinx Organization
Musical career
Genres Classical
Occupation(s)
  • Violinist
  • music educator
Instrument(s)Violin
Years active fl. ca. 1980s–present
Website aarondworkin.com

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

Contents

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 adopted him. Barry and Susan Dworkin were New York City College professors, with a specialization in neuroscience. 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 again began to play. She played Bach pieces and gave Aaron an interest in playing. [2] In Manhattan, Aaron took lessons from Vladimir Graffman. [3] [ unreliable source? ] His biological mother is of Irish descent and his biological father is African-American; his adoptive family is Jewish. [4] At age 10, his parents moved the family from Manhattan to Hershey, Pennsylvania due to his parents getting 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 transfer. He had been unhappy about attending his other high school due to encountering 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 however and he withdrew without earning a degree because of financial reasons. [7]

He then decided to move to Michigan. He worked until he obtained enough funds to attend the University of Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, with a bachelor's degree (in 1997) and a Master's of Music in violin performance, graduating with high honors in 1998. [7]

Career

Inspired by the works of William Grant Still, Dworkin realized there was a lack of 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 former president of the Sphinx Organization. [8] [9] He was a Member of the Obama National Arts Policy Committee. [10]

He became dean of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance on July 20, 2015. [11] On April 5, 2017, he announced his resignation as dean at the conclusion of the 2016–17 academic year planning to focus on his family. [12]

Awards

Discography

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References

  1. ↑ "Aaron P. Dworkin, African American Violinist". chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  2. ↑ Biography Today 2007, p. 38.
  3. 1 2 Biography Today 2007, p. 40.
  4. ↑ "Diversity Affluence Awards Brunch At B. Smiths - Out And About - For The Cause". www.hamptons.com. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ Biography Today 2007, p. 39.
  6. ↑ Biography Today 2007, p. 41.
  7. 1 2 3 Biography Today 2007, p. 42.
  8. ↑ "Sphinx Organization - About Sphinx - Staff". Archived from the original on September 20, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Aaron Dworkin - Polyphonic.org". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  10. ↑ "28 Days of Black Nonprofit Leaders: Aaron Dworkin | Rosetta Thurman". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  11. ↑ Akhtar, Allana (March 19, 2015). "School of Music, Theatre & Dance appoints Sphinx founder as new dean". Michigan Daily. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  12. ↑ "UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance - News". www.music.umich.edu. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Aaron Dworkin - MacArthur Foundation". Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  14. ↑ "2005 MacArthur Fellows Announcement - Aaron Dworkin". Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2010.

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