Originally from upstate New York, Ruben McFarlane is a violist, string pedagogue, and arts administrator currently living in the Boston area. He holds Bachelor Degrees with Summa Cum Laude honors in Viola Performance and Music Education from Penn State University, and a Master Degree in Viola Performance from The Catholic University of America.

Ruben currently works as Department Coordinator at the Berklee College of Music and General Manager of the New England Philharmonic. Along with this work in Boston, he holds additional administrative roles with PostClassical Ensemble in Washington, DC. His active professional networks include the SPHINX Organization, American Viola Society, American String Teacher Association, and Pi Kappa Lamba Music Honor Society.

​Passionate about teaching young string players, Ruben teaches private violin and viola lessons through his private lesson studio. He previously worked as a string teacher in various Northern Virginia public school districts. Outside of the public schools, he was a former teaching artist with the DC Youth Orchestra Program and Prince George's Philharmonic Educational Outreach Program, and summer teaching assistant at the Parsons Children’s and Family Center.

An active performer and freelance violist, Ruben has performed in venues across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, China, and South Korea. He previously held positions and performed with the Williamsport Symphony, Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, and Rhode Island Philharmonic. He additionally attended the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Viola/Viola Seminar at Music from Salem, and Miami Classical Music Festival.