About Dr. Rubin
A life given
to the instrument
Doctor of Musical Arts, performer, and pedagogue with more than forty years of teaching experience across Russia, Israel, New Zealand, the United States, Italy, and Spain.
Dr. Vera Rubin began her musical education at the Saint Petersburg school for gifted children, graduating with honors in 1978. After a master’s degree with honors from the Gnessin Academy in Moscow, she performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the Soviet Union before emigrating in 1990.
Her performing career continued as concertmaster of the Yad Harif Chamber Orchestra in Jerusalem and assistant concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. She has also led chamber ensembles in Jerusalem, Wellington, and Boston. At Boston University, she completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in both contemporary violin and viola performance and early music performance.
Dr. Rubin prefers in-person teaching whenever possible and can work with translation when teacher and student do not share a language.
Teaching philosophy
Her teaching and lectures address tone production, virtuosic bow technique, left-hand relaxation, posture, Baroque and modern bows, and the relationship between a player and their instrument.
Performance & pedagogy
She has held teaching posts at New England Conservatory, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Victoria University of Wellington, and the Gnessin Institute, alongside private studios in Moscow, Jerusalem, Wellington, Boston, and Valencia. Her students have earned competition prizes, scholarships, and orchestral positions around the world.
Credentials
Education, appointments & honours
First Prize, Concertino Prague
First Prize at the international chamber music competition in Czechoslovakia.
Doctor of Musical Arts, Boston University
Full-scholarship doctoral study in contemporary violin and viola performance and historical performance, beginning in 2001.
New England Conservatory faculty
Violin and viola instructor in the Preparatory and Continuing Education divisions, as listed in her 2026 résumé.
MMTA Teacher of the Year
Recognized by the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association. Her résumé also records service as MMTA president and chair of its string division contest.
Cremona International Festival faculty
Listed as festival faculty since 2012 and as a competition jury member in 2012.
Roman Totenberg Young Strings Competition
Founder and chairperson of the annual competition.
Orchestral & chamber career
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Yad Harif Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, and ensembles in Jerusalem, Wellington, and Boston.
No barrier to learning
Lessons in your language
Dr. Rubin speaks Russian and English. For in-person students who do not share either language, translation can be arranged.
Study with Dr. Rubin
In person in Valencia or online anywhere in the world. Tell her where you are and where you'd like to go.