Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Ralph Kirshbaum started cello lessons with his father at age six. At age 11, he continued lessons with Roberta Guastafeste "(née" Harrison; born 1929), who, back then, was on the music faculty at Southern Methodist University and also was a member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. At age 14, he began studying cello with Lev Aronson, then of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Kirshbaum won numerous awards as a student and appeared as a soloist with the Dallas Symphony at age 15.