Four years ago I mentioned in a diary the women who had first taught me cello more than half a century ago, and persuaded my sister and myself to go to what was then National Music Camp in Interlochen Michigan, which she herself had attended in 1929. A few days later I got an email from her daughter, who happened to have googled her mom and found my post, and who informed me her mother, then 96, was still teaching.
On October 19 Rubi Wentzel turned 100. Her daughter Leslie Krikorian, invited me to California for the celebration the next day, Saturday October 20. I flew to Oakland, drove to Lafayette, and was there to honor this remarkable woman:
Please keep reading as I tell you about her, and share some photos from the event.
Rubi Wentzel was born of Czech background in Spillville, IA, perhaps not an inappropriate place for a cellist, since the composer of the signature work for the instrument, Anton Dvorak, spent time there when writing his 9th ("From the New World") Symphony.
She studied at University of Michigan, which two years ago in the alumni magazine for the School of Music, Michigan Muse wrote of her
Rubi Peinert Wentzel, BM ’35 (cello), Stanley Medal winner her senior year and student of Swiss cellist Hans Pick, is working on a book of studies for the beginning cellist—at the age of 97 and despite being wheelchair bound—called It’s Fun to Play the Cello. Brava, Rubi!
I began my studies with Rubi during the 1951-53 school year, when I was in first grade. The same year, a young man several years older than me, whose father sang at the Metropolitan Opera, also decided to take up cello, with Rubi. He went on to be principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra, then to a solo career, performing chamber music, and doing many other things of note. A few years ago, when Lynn Harrell was performing in San Francisco, he invited Rubi and her family to his concert, sat them up front and center, and at the end of the concert acknowledged and thanked her, and she received a standing ovation. Since then, each time he comes through town he makes sure there are free tickets for her and her students.
Here is a picture of Rubi talking with one of her current students:
In lieu of a tip jar, I will paste in the entire text of what Leslie said about her mom at the party, because it will give you the scope of her life. There were friends and family in attendance, present and former students. It was held in the beautiful home set in a canyon above Lafayette, and built by Leslie's husband Hratch, whom you can see here at the outdoor grill: (there is also a wonderful outdoor pizza oven, and the food was fantastic).
Rubi had an interesting life, which included tragedy - when her oldest child developed polio, this being the early 1950s, a lot of families decided not to let their children continue to take lessons from Rubi. Valerie survived and lived until a few years ago, and her husband was at the party.
Besides music, playing it and teaching it, Rubi at one point had a commercial pilot's license, until an unfortunate accident. She taught at universities across the country. She played in orchestras and string quartets. When she and her late husband finally decided to retire, when she was 82, Hratch Krikorian built an addition to the house so they could have their own apartment.
Shortly after she moved in, Rubi got connected with a local middle school, by this man, Bob Athayde of Stanley Middle School: Rubi started as a volunteer, and from that started to get students and then more students, a few of whom she even persuaded to go to Interlochen, either the camp or the school.
Bob performed with Leslie's son and at one point they serenaded Rubi as she listened raptly.
I apologize for the fuzziness of this next picture: which is of Leslie getting someone a drink.
Of course there were cakes:
The high point of the celebration was Leslie standing by the fire circle reading a "toast" to her mom:
of which the key paragraph might have been this:
Music has colored Rubi's life with friends and work and well being for 100 years . It is a picture of concerts that brougt great thrill, students that she taught that ended up teaching her and being such a
great force in her life that continues today to give her motivation and purpose every morning when she gets up.
I acknowledge all that. Of course, for me the high point was a bit more personal, and can be seen in these photos:
I cannot say that after almost 6 decades Rubi remembered me specifically. She did remember the summer a group of us spent the morning doing music in her home, then baked bread and ate lunch, then went to the beach.
I was honored to be there.
National Music Camp at Interlochen played a major part in shaping me.
So did playing cello for so many years, in orchestras and in chamber music.
For both of those I will always be grateful to an amazing woman.
Rubi Wentzel.
100 years old, and still brightening lives and opening vistas by doing what she loves, teaching.