A New Symphonic Work Inspired by Ruth Hamilton
Finding Ruth is a new symphonic work by Gerami Groover, composer, conductor, scholar, and Executive & Artistic Director of the Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music & Arts. Inspired by the life and legacy of Ruth Hamilton, the work brings her archival voice into conversation with a contemporary symphony orchestra and newly reimagined arrangements of Negro Spirituals.
Ruth Hamilton was a celebrated contralto and passionate proponent of the Negro Spiritual tradition. A mentee of renowned concert artist Roland Hayes, she carried forward a distinguished lineage of Black vocal artistry. She performed with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops at Boston's Symphony Hall, bringing the power and beauty of the Spiritual tradition to one of the city's most celebrated stages.
Read Ruth Hamilton's full bio below.
Photo Credit: Eric Antoniou
Ruth's vision ultimately became the foundation of Hamilton-Garrett Music & Arts. For Gerami Groover, this is deeply personal.
Gerami knew Ruth as a young musician and was inspired by her. Today, she leads the institution that carries Ruth's name and legacy forward. Finding Ruth is an artistic continuation of that relationship—a musical bridge between the woman who inspired a generation and the artists carrying her vision into the future.
Photo Credit: Vivian Taylor
But there is urgency to this work. There are only a limited number of accessible recordings and archival materials documenting Ruth's life, voice, and artistry remain. Finding Ruth will serve not only as a new musical work, but as a call to preserve what remains—helping launch the HGMA Library Archive as a home for Ruth's recordings, photographs, stories, and contributions to Boston's Black musical history.
Through composition, orchestral performance, and archival preservation, Finding Ruth will bring Ruth's voice back into the concert hall while creating a lasting record of her legacy for future generations.
This is more than remembering Ruth. It is an effort to make sure she is not forgotten. Finding Ruth is a celebration of Boston, Roxbury, Black music, and the enduring power of a voice that deserves to be heard again.
Finding Ruth is a new symphonic work by Gerami Groover, composer, conductor, scholar, and Executive & Artistic Director of the Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music & Arts. Inspired by the life and legacy of Ruth Hamilton, the work brings her archival voice into conversation with a contemporary symphony orchestra and newly reimagined arrangements of Negro Spirituals.
Ruth Hamilton was a celebrated contralto and passionate proponent of the Negro Spiritual tradition. A mentee of renowned concert artist Roland Hayes, she carried forward a distinguished lineage of Black vocal artistry. She performed with Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops at Boston's Symphony Hall, bringing the power and beauty of the Spiritual tradition to one of the city's most celebrated stages.
Her vision ultimately became the foundation of Hamilton-Garrett Music & Arts. For Gerami Groover, this is deeply personal.
Gerami knew Ruth as a young musician and was inspired by her. Today, she leads the institution that carries Ruth's name and legacy forward. Finding Ruth is an artistic continuation of that relationship—a musical bridge between the woman who inspired a generation and the artists carrying her vision into the future.
But there is urgency to this work. Only a limited number of accessible recordings and archival materials documenting Ruth's life, voice, and artistry remain. Finding Ruth will serve not only as a new musical work, but as a call to preserve what remains—helping launch the HGMA Library Archive as a home for Ruth's recordings, photographs, stories, and contributions to Boston's Black musical history.
Through composition, orchestral performance, and archival preservation, Finding Ruth will bring Ruth's voice back into the concert hall while creating a lasting record of her legacy for future generations.
This is more than remembering Ruth. It is an effort to make sure she is not forgotten.
Finding Ruth is a celebration of Boston, Roxbury, Black music, and the enduring power of a voice that deserves to be heard again.
Ruth Hamilton
Centennial
Ruth Hamilton was a world renowned contralto and proponent of the Negro spirituals. Ms. Hamilton passed away in 2001 and it was her desire for a community-based youth program to be created to preserve, educate and celebrate Black music and culture.
In 2022, Hamilton-Garrett Music & Arts will be celebrating Ruth Hamilton's Centennial and what was her vision for HGMAA.
Stay tuned for more information!
photo credit: Vivian Taylor
Want to share with us about Ruth?
We are constantly looking to add to our Ruth Hamilton archives. If you have a photo, recording, article or story of Ruth Hamilton you would like to share, please reach out!