Ruby Sneed was a Canadian born pianist, an exceptional innovator, teacher, and composer. Born Ruby Evelyn Proctor, on April 30th, 1917, in Edmonton, Alberta, she was pushed to excellence from an early age. Her parents were among the Black Pioneers who emigrated from Oklahoma to Alberta in the early 1900s. As self-educated individuals, they urged their three daughters to follow a formal education and to excel in whichever path they chose. The siblings of Sneed were Pearl Brown, who later in life went into the performing arts, and none other than Canada’s Queen of Jazz, Eleanor Collins.

Sneed took an interest in music from an early age, and completed training from pianist and composer Jean Coulthard, and European concert pianist Jan Cherniavsky. She earned her ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto) as part of her teaching credentials, and in doing so remained at the top of her class. After playing with notable African American contralto Marian Anderson, she was impressed with Sneed’s skill, proceeding to mentor the young musician. In a push to grow her music career, she moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, with sister Eleanor Collins in the 1930’s. There she would meet husband Stanley Sneed, and have two daughters, Theresa, and Brenda.

While in Vancouver, both Eleanor and Ruby sang with the Swing-Lo Quartet on CBC Radio. Throughout her career Sneed contributed to many CBC works even writing the script for the 1963, The Promised Land, a CBC Heritage T.V. series. Sneed would dedicate a generous portion of her life to educating children, with extreme faith in their ability and character. Many of her students would later win awards, scholarships, and teaching opportunities at some of the most celebrated music schools, including, The Brussels Conservatory, Moscow Conservatory, Paris Conservatory, Julliard, Aspen Music School, and the Banff Arts Centre.

After receiving a grant from the Community Music School of Greater Vancouver, Sneed traveled to Japan where she would learn the Suzuki Talent Education Program. Impressed by the approach, she brought the teachings with her to Canada, and opened the first Canadian Suzuki Piano Program. Word spread of her success with the program, and she became a highly sought-after lecturer and teacher. Very few Black women in classical music were taken seriously into the public eye during Sneed’s working career. She impressively made an impact in the industry and continued appearing on educational television and teaching in renowned universities’ master classes, right up until her passing in 1976.