Anita Ruth

Anita Ruth has been active in the Twin Cities theatrical and musical circles for over 35 years. After serving as musical director for over eighty shows at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, she has led a varied and exciting life as a freelance musician and educator. She spent eight years with the Children’s Theater Company in both theatrical and educational capacities. Continuing her work with young people, Anita has partnered with T. Mychael Rambo on the COMPAS Artist’s Roster, being named Artists of the Year in 2006 by Young Audiences of Minnesota. Anita has worked for ten years with Project Success, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping inner city students thrive and fulfill their dreams. She is the musical director for three theater projects each year, involving a total of over 300 students. Her work as a teacher also extends to music directing four shows every year with Bloomington Civic Theater. But it is with the WITNESS Program that she finds her greatest educational experiences. A roster member for nine years, Anita is committed to bringing the true story of African American history, song, and culture to all students and educators.

Workshop Description

Hannibal Lokumbe’s piece, In The Spirit of Being, perfectly illustrates the power of music to effect change in the lives of all peoples. T. Mychael and Anita will expand and support the resource guide’s assertion that “this work will show how we are all interconnected through our past, present and future regardless of cultural background."

We will explore the history and magnificence of the Negro Spiritual. Through this exploration we will study how they have been the cornerstone of African American music embodying the struggles and victories the culture has experienced. Lokumbe has said that he is greatly influenced by spirituals and students will have the opportunity to write their own musical composition. By doing so, they will demonstrate how the study of spirituals has influenced them and how giving voice to their own “struggles and victories” affirms the “spirit of being” in each of them.

To Prepare Students

  • Students may benefit from participating in the following resource guide activities:
  • “Words of Life: The Poetry of Langston Hughes” on p. 85 of the WITNESS Teacher Resource Guide
  • “Music of the Civil Rights Movement: Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change is Gonna Come’”
    on p. 110
  • Songs of Peace And Hope: African American Spirituals on p. 133

Workshop needs and support:

  • Tuned piano (or available keyboard)
  • Access to dry-erase/chalkboard or flip chart for song creation
  • Space within the classroom to accommodate community building / “circle” exercise(s)
  • Easy access to electrical outlet(s)