Anita Ruth has been a VocalEssence Teaching Artist for more than 20 years. She shared the story of how it all began as well as a favorite memory of hers from her time working in schools for the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program.
While doing a show at Ruby’s Cabaret in downtown Minneapolis some thirty years ago, I met a lovely gentleman. T. Mychael Rambo was his name, a man with a sweet voice and a lovely regard for anyone he met. Little did I know that he would change my life and we would become life long friends.
T. Mychael asked me to accompany him during some auditorium shows he was doing for the then Plymouth Music Series (now VocalEssence) WITNESS program. After doing a few of these performances, he turned to me onstage and said “what are you doing behind that piano?” That was the day my life changed–so much for the better. With T. Mychael’s support and modeling, I became a full-fledged WITNESS artist! This began an amazing collaboration with T. Mychael and the other VocalEssence Teaching Artists, and the VocalEssence organization. I have been so fortunate to be a part of the WITNESS School Program outreach residencies and workshops.
Together with T. Mychael we were able to bring the true history of enslaved Africans to the students who needed to know this story. And best of all, we brought the story to hundreds of students through music! T. Mychael is a wonderful interpreter of the songs created by enslaved Africans–the Spirituals. The effect of the enrichment of African American history that VocalEssence Teaching Artists provide is invaluable. I have gained so much knowledge and important insights from working with these wonderful people. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.
While doing WITNESS residencies, T. Mychael and I were often in classrooms with students who had severe emotional and learning disabilities. We were fortunate to have the gift of music to share in our communications. In one particular instance we were told that a young girl, a fourth grader, refused to speak or participate in any activities in the classroom. We were teaching the kids a wonderful Melanie DeMore song and the she was sitting away from the class, looking out the window. As we were teaching, I could see she was edging closer to the group. After ten minutes she had worked her way to the piano. I asked if she wanted to sit with me on the bench, and she said “Yes!” The teacher was amazed at that, but even more so when she picked up a tambourine and started to play with us! It was truly an example of the power of music.
To read Anita Ruth’s bio and watch a video about what happens during Anita and T. Mychael’s workshops for the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program, click the button below.
To learn more about the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program, click the button below.