Aaron Dworkin | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1970-09-11)September 11, 1970 (age 55) Monticello, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Title | Founder of theSphinx Organization |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument | Violin |
| Years active | fl. ca. 1980s–present |
| Website | aarondworkin |
Aaron Paul Dworkin (born September 11, 1970) is an American violinist and music educator.[1]
Dworkin was born on September 11, 1970 inMonticello, New York, to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they were forced to give their son up for adoption. His biological mother is of Irish descent and his biological father is African-American.[2] When he was two weeks old, he was adopted by Barry and Susan Dworkin. The Dworkins were bothNew York City College professors, with a specialization inneuroscience. Susan had been an amateur violinist before Aaron's adoption, and when he was about five years old, she began to play again. She playedBach pieces which gave Aaron an interest in music.[3] At age 10, his parents moved the family from Manhattan toHershey, Pennsylvania because they both got jobs at theHershey Medical Center.[4]
In his youth, he attended thePeabody Institute andPhiladelphia's New School of Music. By his teens, he was performing regularly with the Hershey Youth Orchestra and theHarrisburg Youth Symphony.[5] For his junior and senior year of high school, he attended theInterlochen Arts Academy, after his parents convinced him he needed to transfer. He had been unhappy about attending his other high school because he'd encountered racial prejudice.[6]
Dworkin enrolled atPenn 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 for financial reasons.[7]
He then decided to move toMichigan. He worked until he obtained enough funds to attend theUniversity of Michigan. He graduated from theUniversity 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]
Inspired by the works ofWilliam Grant Still, Dworkin realized there was a lack of minorities involved in classical music. He created theSphinx Organization to help reflect the diversity in the United States in orchestras.[7] He is the founder and former president of the Sphinx Organization.[2][8]
He became dean of theUniversity of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance on July 20, 2015.[9] 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.[10] He currently serves as a Professor of Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship at the university.[1]
Dworkin has written a variety of books and worked on a multitude of creative projects. He has authored a children's book, a science fiction novel, two memoirs, and a book entitledThe Entrepreneurial Artist: Lessons from Highly Successful Creatives. His film,An American Prophecy, won anEmmy Award and honors from multiple festivals. He also created a digital art project entitledFractured History.[1]
Dworkin has received a variety of appointments and honors. He wasPresident Obama’s first appointment to the National Council on the Arts and is a member ofPresident Biden’s Arts Policy Committee. Additionally, Dworkin is a member of theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences, theAcademy of American Poets and theRecording Academy. He is on the APB speakers bureau’s roster and regularly serves as the keynote speaker at universities and conferences.[1]
He has served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Boards for multiple arts organizations including the National Council on the Arts,Knight Foundation, Motown Museum, National Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Avery Fisher Artist Program, Independent Sector,League of American Orchestras, Ann Arbor Area Foundation,Michigan Theater andChamber Music America.[1]
Poetjournalism, as termed by Aaron Dworkin, is “the research, creation, and distribution of writing that evokes an emotional connection to news-related subjects or other relevant ideas utilizing elements of sound, meter, rhythm and/or creative illustration”.[1] Poetjournalism focuses on discussing important societal issues, which is a common theme in poetry.[11]
Dworkin holds the title of Poetjournalist-in-Residence at several organizations, including The Rodham Institute atGeorge Washington University, the City ofAnn Arbor’s Bicentennial, Grantmakers in the Arts,[1] the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, theWright Museum of African American History, Ovation TV Network,Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Shar Music.[12] His pieces created in collaboration with these organizations focus on the specific societal issues that each organization aims to impact.[13]
In 2024, Dworkin founded The Institute for Poetjournalism, which organizes a competition and serves as a news bureau for poetjournalism.[13] The organization’s Dworkin Prize offers the competition winner a $150,000 award, larger than any other prize in poetry and journalism. The prize honors the impact of poetry and journalism.[11]
Dworkin is the author of multiple poetry collections and has performed spoken-word poetry across the United States. His collections includeThe Poetjournalist andThey Said I Wasn’t Really Black.[1] As a spoken-word artist, he has performed his poetry atCarnegie Hall, Galapagos Theater in New York,Harvard University, Chautauqua,University of Michigan, Minneapolis Orchestra Hall,NJPAC, theWright Museum, Orchestra Hall and more.[1]
Dworkin is married to Afa Sadykhly Dworkin and has two children, Noah Still and Amani Jaise.[1]
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