Nina Anderson
Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder, Sphinx Organization, and
Dean, University of Michigan
School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder, Sphinx Organization, and
Dean, University of Michigan
School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Delaware Online
November 21, 2016
Delaware Voice Nina Anderson
I grew up in a working class musical family with parents who
appreciated the arts. They instilled in me an appreciation for
classical music and other music genres, that was pivotal in my
upbringing. I started out playing the piano and was introduced to the
violin at Warner Elementary in Wilmington. At the time, Warner had
robust arts and music programs. Back then, taking up an instrument and
active participation in the music and arts program were a required
element as part of a student’s overall academic success.
Unfortunately,
there were very few African-American students who took up playing the
violin, and as I continued on, it was a rarity to hear a young violinist
soloing a violin concerto. Throughout the years of training, I yearned
for a cultural connection in the music community and mentorship with a
classically trained African-American violin teacher and role model.
Although
classical music may be of European in origin, its Afro-European and
African-American lineage is diverse. During the 18th century, Le
Chevalier de Saint-Georges was an Afro-French composer, violinist, and
conductor. He became one of the earliest French composers of a string
quartet and symphony. African-American born talented violinist and
composer, Aaron Dworkin, a MacArthur Fellow, holds an annual competition
for Black and Latino string players which aims to increase the number
of minority professional symphony players.
***
Dec.
13, is National Violin Day, and the holiday honors the bowed-string
instrument which is also known as the fiddle. The violin is part of the
string family which includes the viola, cello, and bass. It is the
highest pitched instrument of the family.
On that day, I
will have the opportunity to play at a Delaware 87ers basketball game on
center stage to raise Sickle Cell awareness, and call attention to the
importance of music education. Please join me, as I will play the
National Anthem on the violin to support the TOVA Sickle Cell Specialty
Center at the Bob Carpenter Center at 6:30 p.m. during the
pregame ceremony.
Dr. Nina Anderson is a founding
member of the Umoja Strings, executive director of TOVA Community Health
Sickle Cell Specialty Center, and is an affiliated assistant professor
at the University of Delaware.
Comment by email:
Thanks so much for your message Bill and this is wonderful! Hope all is well… Aaron [Aaron P. Dworkin]
Comment by email:
Thanks so much for your message Bill and this is wonderful! Hope all is well… Aaron [Aaron P. Dworkin]
No comments:
Post a Comment