Dr. Ruth Lin, director of the Symphony Orchestra at Gustavus Adolphus College, was recently awarded the Master Teacher: School Orchestra Award from the Minnesota chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Awarded to an outstanding orchestra director in a school program, Lin is the first to be honored with this award on the collegiate level.
Lin was nominated by the organization’s past president Jim Bartsch, and current president Michael Watson says she is deserving of the honor. “She is wonderful to work with…inspiring and challenging at the same time,” Watson says. He highlighted her work with high school students as a clinician at various music festivals. Dr. Lin has also conducted high school and middle school students in honor orchestras.
“The American String Teachers Association is a terrific organization and I am deeply honored by their recognition,” Lin says. “I consider it part of my job as a musician and teacher to help promote string music anywhere and everywhere, so the award was completely unexpected.”
Under Lin’s direction, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra was a finalist for the 2015 American Prize in the college/university division. She has conducted the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra for ten years.
I’ve known Ruth since she was a little girl playing piano at our church. I believe she received the honor because she does her job whole heartedly as to the Lord not to men.
Congratulations Ruth!! A most well deserved recognition.