Sphinx Organization
Encyclopedia
The Sphinx Organization is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of young Black
and Latino
classical musicians. Based in Detroit, Michigan
, it was founded by the American violinist Aaron Dworkin
. The Sphinx
was chosen to represent this organization because of what it symbolizes: "the power, wisdom and persistence" that the organization hopes to instill in its participants.
began the Sphinx Competition. While he was immediately met with skepticism from his violin teacher and the dean of the University of Michigan School of Music
, his passion about the endeavor won them over. He was allotted $40,000 over the course of three years from the dean, Dr. Paul Boylan and gained grant money from other organizations including Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Ford Motor Co.
, Masco Corp., and the Wolfensohn Family Foundation. In January 2010 the Sphinx Competition celebrated its 13th year. Since the start of the first annual competition, Sphinx has also begun a number of other programs to help the growth of minority involvement in classical music.
, and Sphinx Chamber Orchestra. The Sphinx Symphony is composed of Black and Latino professional players and teachers from around the United States. The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra allows Black and Latino musicians a chance to tour and classical music at a professional level. The Catalyst Quartet is formed by Sphinx Competition top laureates and the Harlem Quartet
has all first place winners of the competition.
, Paul Katz
, and Kim Kashkashian
.
visits various schools in New York to provide exposure for elementary school
children to classical music through performance. The Sphinx Preparatory Institute is a program offering Saturday classes to Detroit students in music history, theory and instrumental performance. It serves string, woodwind, brass, percussion and piano instrumentalists, ages 11–18 and is designed to address the needs of students in pursuit of music studies at beginning and intermediate levels who lack access to good training. The Sphinx Performance Academy is a music festival held by the Sphinx Organization where Black and Latino students ages 12–17 have the opportunity to study under the Harlem Quartet
and other Sphinx Competition alumni. During their time at the Academy the students receive both private and masterclass instruction in chamber
and solo music. Sphinx Journeys is a program that Aaron Dworkin
himself hosts. It is a radio show which he uses to introduce and recount classical music produced by Black and Latino musicians. This program is a co-production with WRCJ-FM in Detroit.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
classical musicians. Based in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, it was founded by the American violinist Aaron Dworkin
Aaron Dworkin
Aaron Paul Dworkin is an African American violinist, and music educator.-Early life:Aaron Paul Dworkin was born on September 11, 1970 in Monticello, New York to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they decided to give their son up for adoption...
. The Sphinx
Sphinx
A sphinx is a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head or a cat head.The sphinx, in Greek tradition, has the haunches of a lion, the wings of a great bird, and the face of a woman. She is mythicised as treacherous and merciless...
was chosen to represent this organization because of what it symbolizes: "the power, wisdom and persistence" that the organization hopes to instill in its participants.
History
At age 25, Aaron P. DworkinAaron Dworkin
Aaron Paul Dworkin is an African American violinist, and music educator.-Early life:Aaron Paul Dworkin was born on September 11, 1970 in Monticello, New York to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they decided to give their son up for adoption...
began the Sphinx Competition. While he was immediately met with skepticism from his violin teacher and the dean of the University of Michigan School of Music
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance is an undergraduate and graduate institution for the performing arts in the United States. It is part of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance was founded in 1880 and is currently headed by...
, his passion about the endeavor won them over. He was allotted $40,000 over the course of three years from the dean, Dr. Paul Boylan and gained grant money from other organizations including Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Ford Motor Co.
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, Masco Corp., and the Wolfensohn Family Foundation. In January 2010 the Sphinx Competition celebrated its 13th year. Since the start of the first annual competition, Sphinx has also begun a number of other programs to help the growth of minority involvement in classical music.
Music ensembles
There have been multiple groups formed out of the Sphinx Organization. The organization itself has an orchestra known as the Sphinx Symphony. Other groups created by the Sphinx Organization are: Catalyst Quartet, Harlem QuartetHarlem Quartet
The Harlem Quartet is a string quartet that is composed of first-place laureates of the Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players. They were formed in 2006...
, and Sphinx Chamber Orchestra. The Sphinx Symphony is composed of Black and Latino professional players and teachers from around the United States. The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra allows Black and Latino musicians a chance to tour and classical music at a professional level. The Catalyst Quartet is formed by Sphinx Competition top laureates and the Harlem Quartet
Harlem Quartet
The Harlem Quartet is a string quartet that is composed of first-place laureates of the Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players. They were formed in 2006...
has all first place winners of the competition.
Annual Sphinx Competition
The Annual Sphinx Competition began in 1997. The Sphinx Competition give Black and Latino classical string players a chance to compete, work with an internationally renowned panel of judges and to perform with professional musicians. Prizes include over $100,000 in scholarships and cash prizes, as well as solo performances with major orchestras across the United States. Many of the past laureates have gone on to either study at very prestigious schools or began careers in solo or orchestra playing. Notable judges include Anthony Elliot, Sanford Allen, Atar AradAtar Arad
Atar Arad is an Israeli American violist, professor of music, essayist and composer.He has performed in top venues around the world both as a featured soloist with orchestras in and as a member of the distinguished Cleveland Quartet from 1980 to 1987, taking the seat previously established by...
, Paul Katz
Paul Katz
Paul Katz is an internationally renowned American cellist, best known for his membership of the Cleveland Quartet. Katz currently teaches at the New England Conservatory following positions at Rice University and the Eastman School of Music. He serves on the National Advisory Board of the...
, and Kim Kashkashian
Kim Kashkashian
Kim Kashkashian is an Armenian-American violist.-Professional career:Kim Kashkashian studied the viola with Karen Tuttle. She also studied at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She won the 2nd prize at the 1980 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the 1980 ARD International Music...
.
Outreach programs
The Sphinx Organization is known not only for its annual competition, but for the education it has provided across the United States as well. Its outreach programs are free, non-profit programs aimed at developing interest and education towards classical music in urban under served areas in the United States. These programs include: Musical Encounters, School Dayz, Sphinx Preparatory Institute, Sphinx Performance Academy, and Sphinx Journeys. Musical Encounters allows just as its name suggest, a chance for children to encounter the instruments of the orchestra and learn more about them within a school. School Dayz is a program in which the Harlem QuartetHarlem Quartet
The Harlem Quartet is a string quartet that is composed of first-place laureates of the Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players. They were formed in 2006...
visits various schools in New York to provide exposure for elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
children to classical music through performance. The Sphinx Preparatory Institute is a program offering Saturday classes to Detroit students in music history, theory and instrumental performance. It serves string, woodwind, brass, percussion and piano instrumentalists, ages 11–18 and is designed to address the needs of students in pursuit of music studies at beginning and intermediate levels who lack access to good training. The Sphinx Performance Academy is a music festival held by the Sphinx Organization where Black and Latino students ages 12–17 have the opportunity to study under the Harlem Quartet
Harlem Quartet
The Harlem Quartet is a string quartet that is composed of first-place laureates of the Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players. They were formed in 2006...
and other Sphinx Competition alumni. During their time at the Academy the students receive both private and masterclass instruction in chamber
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
and solo music. Sphinx Journeys is a program that Aaron Dworkin
Aaron Dworkin
Aaron Paul Dworkin is an African American violinist, and music educator.-Early life:Aaron Paul Dworkin was born on September 11, 1970 in Monticello, New York to Vaughn and Audeen Moore, but they decided to give their son up for adoption...
himself hosts. It is a radio show which he uses to introduce and recount classical music produced by Black and Latino musicians. This program is a co-production with WRCJ-FM in Detroit.