[MASTA] Sharing a Tribute to Marvin Rabin, A Great Man and Educator

[Diane L. Winder]

Good Afternoon, Colleagues, 
Just heard about the passing of one of our string/education heroes Marvin Rabin, so sharing this lovely history below. A wonderful time of year to remember heroes! 


Best, Diane L. Winder, President, MASTA 
- - - - - 



MADISON – Music educator Marvin Rabin, 97, died at UW Hospitals Dec. 5, 2013 , after a short illness. 

Marvin, who taught in the UW Music Dept. and Extension, was known internationally as a high school youth orchestra conductor and string pedagogue. He was the founding music director of both the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1966 and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra in 1958. He led the Central Kentucky Youth Symphony Orchestra in the 1950’s. All three orchestras have blossomed into multi-faceted music institutions. Marvin also conducted youth orchestras internationally and in 48 states throughout the U.S.. In addition, he was in constant demand, both in the U.S. and abroad, as a string development specialist. He received numerous awards throughout his career and at least two awards bear his name. 

Perhaps more important than the particulars of Marvin’s career is the devotion he felt for giving young people the opportunity to express themselves artistically. Michael George, who played under Marvin as a high school student, and became the executive director of the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, put it this way in a 2011 Wisconsin State Journal article: “Marvin has always believed that all children deserve to make music and beauty in their lives, and that making music can transcend cultures and economic traditions.” 

In the same article, Marvin’s oldest son, Ralph, added that “he really believed in making music accessible, and not an elitist thing. As a teacher, he makes students feel the importance of who they are and what they can become. His goal was not to create professional musicians. Excellence, yes. But it’s mostly about giving students the opportunity for participation and the expression of music.” Marvin might not have been focused on creating professional musicians, but just about any professional orchestra includes former Marvin students; one example is composer John Adams, Marvin’s lead clarinetist in the Boston youth orchestra. 

Marvin was born to immigrant grocery store owners in South Bend, Indiana in 1916. His mother Rose had grown up around classical music and encouraged her oldest child to play the violin. His father was excited his son might be able to make a decent living like the lead violinist in the local orchestra. Marvin eventually switched to viola and got a scholarship to Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. He ended up with a degree in education, with a focus on history and political science, from the University of Kentucky. Anti-Semitism prevented him from teaching history in Kentucky after graduation, but he was able to become a high school music teacher. His undergraduate work, however, informed his career in music education. 

Marvin taught Free French pilots, including Algerians, in Alabama during WW11. That program ended shortly after a visiting officer sent the relatively dark Algerians to Tuskegee (the US military was segregated until the late 40’s.). Marvin then went on to fly military aircraft to various staging sites around the world, and was training for beach landings when the war ended. 

After the war, anti-Semitism again reared its head when he was denied a job as a pilot in the burgeoning airline industry. In the wake of a war against Hitler; the pilots association would not tolerate Jews in its ranks. Marvin returned to teaching music in Kentucky. Using the GI Bill, considered the largest downward transfer of wealth in human history, Marvin got his masters in applied viola at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. There he met Rhoda, a pianist and bassist, and after proposing to her, allegedly on their second date, they were married in 1948. 

After graduating, Marvin and Rhoda returned to Kentucky to teach and perform. He taught at Atherton High School in Louisville and eventually was offered a position at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He conducted the University’s orchestra, taught classes and played in the faculty quartet, but his real passion lay with high school students. He developed the Central Kentucky Youth Symphony Orchestra and brought the group to Carnegie Hall in 1958. In that same year Marvin was recruited by Boston University, a job that included starting the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. He eventually took that ensemble to play for President Kennedy and the First Lady at the White House, followed by a concert at Carnegie Hall. 

In 1966, enticed by what Marvin called the “missionary zeal” of Emmett Sarig , the head of UW Music Extension-Arts, Marvin and his family moved to Madison, where he started the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, a statewide string development program, and the National String Workshop, in a state primarily dedicated to bands. He credited much of his success to colleagues like Richard Wolf. He also managed to teach strings to low-income preschoolers in Milwaukee. 

He obtained his Ed.D in music education from the University of Illinois in 1968. His children grew up believing that “damn dissertation” was one word. His long held political beliefs were reflected by his fervent support for the Progressive Magazine, Bill Moyers PBS programs and similar efforts. 

He kept in continual contact with former students and colleagues throughout his career. Once again quoting from the aforementioned WSJ article, Marvin said that over the years “I’ ve seen these people grow. And what they’ ve done is to provide opportunities for me to continue to be active and grow.” 

Marvin is pre-deceased by his parents Jack and Rose, and his sisters Doris and Sylvia. Marvin’s wife Rhoda died in 2003. He is survived by his sister, Esther, and his and Rhoda's children, Ralph and his wife Carol Willett , David, Martha and her husband Frank Widman , and three granddaughters, Camilla and her husband Caven Pfeiffer and daughter Ivy, Daniella and Sophie. 

A celebration of Marvin’s life is planned for 3p on 12/29/13 at the Atrium of the Unitarian Meeting House, 900 University Bay Drive, Madison 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: 

Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras 
UW Humanities Building, Rm 1625 
455 N. Park St 
Madison, WI 53706 

Wisconsin Foundation for School Music 
Wisconsin Center for Music Education 
1005 Quinn Dr 
Waunakee , WI 53597 
-- 

Department Head, Department of Music & Dance 
Professor of Cello 
Eastern Michigan University 
N-101 Alexander Music Building 
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 
734.487.4380 O 
734.487.1421 Studio (354 Alexander) 
734.487.6939 FAX 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://astamichigan.org/pipermail/members_astamichigan.org/attachments/20131215/1bea8040/attachment.html>