The Quarter Note - Sphinx Organization

q The Quarter Note
Winter 2015
Vol. 16, No. 1
Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder
Presented by
he 18th annual Sphinx
Competition, presented by
the DTE Energy Foundation,
welcomes 18 of the nation’s top
young Black and Latino string
players. In partnership with the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
the competition will take place
in Detroit, MI from January 28 February 1, 2015.
The semi-finalists are divided into
two divisions based on age. The
junior division of the competition
culminates in the Honors
Concert, which will be held on
Friday, January 30 and the senior
division Finals concert will be
held on Sunday, February 1. Both
concerts will be streamed live
via the Sphinx website, and the
Finals concert will be recorded
for national broadcast on PBS
stations, including Detroit Public
Television.
The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra,
an ensemble of professional
musicians from around the
country, will be led by Guest
Conductor Maestro Andrew
Grams. Cristina Pato will join
the orchestra during the Finals
concert as the Guest soloist.
Cristina is the first female
Galician bagpiper to record a solo
album in Spain and has released
four albums.
Reserve Your
Tickets Today!
Save the dates for the
18th Annual Sphinx Competition
Honors Concert and Finals Concert
at the Max M. Fisher Music Center.
Visit SphinxMusic.org/competition
for more information.
Junior Division
Honors Concert
Friday, January 30, 2015
at Noon
SENIOR DIVISION
T
JUNIOR DIVISION
Semi-Finalists Announced in
18th Annual Sphinx Competition
with Top Prize of $50,000
Nicholas Arredondo, 16, bass
The Colburn Academy
Teacher: Peter Lloyd
Eileen Moudou, 15, violin
Richard Montgomery ES
Teacher: Lya Stern
Kevonna Shuford, 17, viola
Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Teacher: Laurice Buckton
Maria Sanderson, 15, violin
Homeschooled
Teacher: Mimi Zweig
Shania Watts, 14, viola
Home School (Washington
Virtual Academy)
Teacher: Brian Quincey
Mira Williams, 16, viola
Homeschooled
Teacher: Roland Vamos
Hannah White, 14, violin
Music Institute of Chicago-Academy
Teachers: Almita Vamos
Roberto Arundale, 24, cello
Cleveland Institute of Music
Teacher: Stephen Geber
Santiago Cañón-Valencia, 19,
cello; Southern Methodist University; Teacher: Andres Diaz
Juan-Salvador Carrasco, 20,
cello; Northwestern University
Teachers: Hans Jorgen Jensen
Michael Casimir, 23, viola
Juilliard; Teacher: Heidi
Castleman/Misha Amory
Ricardo Hamaury Gomez, 25,
violin; Baylor University
Teacher: Bruce Berg
Annelle Gregory, 19, violin
USC Thornton School of Music
Teacher: Glenn Dicterow
Myrtil Mitanga,19, cello
Northwestern University
Teacher: Hans Jorgen Jensen
Samuel Nebyu, 21, violin
Boyer College, Temple University
Teacher: Eduard Schmieder
Aaron Olguin, 20, bass
University of North Texas
Teacher: Jeff Bradetich
FREE
Senior Division
Finals Concert
Sunday, February 1, 2015
at 2:00 PM
Tickets $10-$25
Eduardo Rios, 19, violin
The Colburn School of Music
Teacher: Robert Lipsett
Josué Valdepeñas, 23, cello
The Colburn School of Music
Teacher: Clive Greensmith
Editor: Therese Goussy
Contributors: Andre Dowell, Aaron
Dworkin, Xavier Verna
Design & Layout: Julie Renfro
Aaron P. Dworkin
I am
Founder
Special Artistic Advisor
Yo-Yo Ma
Honorary Committee
Branford Marsalis, Chair
Glenn Dicterow
David Finckel
Nikki Giovanni
Wu Han
Ida Kavafian
Ani Kavafian
Nigel Kennedy
Jaime Laredo
Tania Leon
Yo-Yo E. Ma
Mark O’Connor
Christopher O’Riley
Itzhak Perlman
Toby Perlman
André Previn
Awadagin Pratt
Bright Sheng
Leonard Slatkin
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
Arnold Steinhardt
Michael Tilson Thomas
George Walker
Jeffrey Zeigler
Board of Directors
William H. Carson, Chair
Anne L. Taylor, Vice Chair
Anthony Glover, Treasurer
Deidre Lambert-Bounds, Secretary
Rachel Barton Pine
Martha Darling
Aaron P. Dworkin
Kenneth Fischer
Maxine Frankel
Patricia Garcia
Sandra Gibson
Linda Gillum
Norman Herbert
Carl Herstein
Howard Hertz
Andrea Hoffman
Marianne Lockwood
Majorie Pearsall
Vivian Pickard
Sally Stegeman DiCarlo
Kathy Weaver
Beverly Willis
Shaun Wilson
© 2015 Sphinx Organization
400 Renaissance Center, Ste 2550
Detroit, MI 48243
313-877-9100
info@SphinxMusic.org
www.SphinxMusic.org
Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder
Sphinx Virtuosi member Francisco
Vila brought music to the skies,
playing his cello on a flight while a
flight attendant accompanied him by
beat-boxing.
Sphinx promotes just what I’m
“looking
for. It sets the ground for
building new relationships, fosters
growth and looks forward to change.
Our art is in good hands.”
Sphinx Competition
Presenter
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
www.53.com
Stella & Frederick Loeb
Charitable Trust
ADMINISTERED BY
PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you well and enjoying a safe, happy season. This winter, Sphinx wraps up a
successful year of enhancing existing programs and innovating and implementing new ones as
we strive toward our mission of transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. As we
reflect on our progress, we must also look back on the progress that has been made in the field
throughout the past year.
One year ago, in this newsletter, I lamented the state of diversity in major American orchestras. I
regrettably shared that Blacks and Latinos represent only about 4% of American orchestras, and I
was disheartened to see those orchestras doing little or nothing to make a change.
One year later, I am happy to report that positive progress is being made. This year, ten orchestras
reached out Sphinx to inform our constituencies of upcoming auditions and to request potential
qualified candidates - something that had never before happened in Sphinx’s history. This May,
clarinetist and Sphinx alumnus Anthony McGill became the New York Philharmonic’s first African-American principal
player, and the third African-American member in the history of the orchestra. Other Sphinx alumni joined orchestras
including the Seattle Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, and the Phoenix Symphony.
In addition, several orchestras engaged Sphinx in discussions of initiating partnerships to impact their inclusion.
The League of American Orchestras Board of Directors now has an active Diversity Task Force that is engaged
in determining how issues of inclusion can be incorporated into the League’s strategic planning, and they have
repeatedly reached out to Sphinx to identify candidates for their orchestral management training.
Though these steps are incredibly encouraging, there is still much work to be done. Through our programs, our
national and international partnerships, and through your support and advocacy, I look forward to seeing the strides
that we can make in the field.
Have a wonderful season and take care,
- Aaron
e
Give the gift of music
this holiday season!
Y
What will your support accomplish?
Students enjoy a performance by the Sphinx Virtuosi. Photo: Kimberly Warner.
$25 Supports a free violin lesson
$50 Provides sheet music for 5 students
$100 Brings Sphinx Virtuosi to a school
$275 Provides 2 students with violins
$500 Helps bring a student to our summer program
$1,100 Supports a Sphinx Symphony artist
$2,000 Supports a Sphinx Symphony principal chair
$5,000 Supports a Sphinx Symphony section
To give today, please see enclosed giving envelope,
visit SphinxMusic.org/donate, or contact
Therese Goussy at Therese@SphinxMusic.org
or 734-255-7623
r
SPHINX NEWS
Grantmakers in the Arts 2014 Conference
Johnnia Stigall, former Sphinx Competition and
SphinxCon liaison, was hired at the Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra as Education Program
Coordinator.
Sphinx Founder and President
Aaron Dworkin organized
and moderated a GIA 2014
Conference session entitled
“Strategies to Increase
Equity in Grantmaking &
Empowerment,” presented by
Maurine Knighton, Senior Vice
President, Grantmaking, Nathan
Cummings Foundation; Justin
Laing, Senior Program Officer,
The Heinz Endowments; and
Roberta Uno, Senior Program
Officer, Ford Foundation.
2013 Sphinx Competition junior division
semifinalist Bradley Reed Parrimore participated
in HBO’s Joshua Bell: YoungArts Masterclass.
Sphinx Laureates Melissa White and Tony
Rymer are serving as Sphinx 2014 Global
Scholars! Through partnerships with London
Music Masters, they will engage in outreach
performances, as well as the Class, Race
and Classical Music discussion forum.
Esperanz’Arts in France will host collaborative
performances and outreach. European Youth
Orchestra partnership will facilitate an artist
exchange, where their members will perform
as part of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra,
with Sphinx alumni traveling for the exchange
component in 2015!
Sphinx Founder and President Aaron Dworkin
has been selected and will be featured in Musical
America’s December 2014 Special Report,
“Profiles in Courage.” This year’s featured
individuals are those who have taken risks,
stepped up for a cause, and spoken out where
others have remained silent.
Send us your news and performance updates:
QuarterNote@SphinxMusic.org
n Re-examine the intersection of arts and culture through the lens of
today’s demographics.
n Perform research that raises questions of equity and widely share
that information in the community.
n Think about any interaction with a grant-seeker as an opportunity
for mutual learning exchange.
Please visit Sphinx’s facebook page for a complete list of the 23
discussed strategies/best practices to increase equity in grantmaking!
Become a Musical Chairs Sponsor Today!
The Sphinx Musical Chairs program supports the extraordinary artists of the Sphinx
Symphony Orchestra through the naming of a chair. These musicians serve as mentors
to the Sphinx Competition finalists and perform works by Black and Latino composers
in the Finals concert. Musical Chairs sponsors help Sphinx bring these talented
professionals to the Sphinx Competition and support them throughout the competition.
Support at the $1,100 level ($900 tax-deductible) or more provides the following
benefits:
u Named Section Chair in the Orchestra
u Admission for Two to the Musical Chairs Luncheon, occurring immediately prior to the Finals Concert
u Two Box Seat tickets for the Sphinx Competition Finals Concert and Reception, taking place Sunday, February 1st at 2 PM
u Two general admission tickets to the Sphinx Competition Finals Concert
u Admission for Two to the Sphinx Competition Honors Concert, Friday, January 30th at noon
u Recognition in Sphinx Competition program, website and annual report
Support at the $2,000 level ($1,800 tax-deductible) provides all the above listed
benefits, and the naming of a Principal Chair in the Orchestra.
Support at the $5,000 level ($4,400 tax-deductible) sponsors an entire
section of the orchestra and provides all the above benefits, including 4
additional Box Seat tickets to the Finals Concert and a program signed by
the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra.
Sponsoring a Musical Chair not only transforms the life of the orchestra
member you sponsor, but also each of the finalists whose competition
experience will be enriched by the mentorship they receive from these
artists, as well as the audience members who will experience and be
inspired by their performances.
For more information or to become a Musical Chairs sponsor today, please
contact our Manager of Communications, Therese Goussy, at Therese@
SphinxMusic.org or 313-877-9100 x713, or feel free to use the enclosed
giving envelope with Musical Chairs support levels listed.
The 2014 Sphinx Symphony performs at Orchestra Hall, Detroit, MI. Photo: Glenn Triest
ARTHUR L. JOHNSON
AWARD RECIPIENT
Abel López
Abel López
PRESENTERS
Leaders discussing solutions to the challenges
surrounding diversity in all aspects of the
performing arts sector.
Jane Chu
Chairman,
National Endowment
for the Arts
JAN 30 - FEB 1, 2015
DETROIT, MI
REGISTER NOW!
www.SphinxCon.org
Christina Pato
Jesse Rosen
Musician,
Silk Road Ensemble
President and CEO,
*League of American
Orchestras
Maria Rosario
Jackson
Rachel S. Moore
Senior Adviser,
Arts and Cultural Program,
Kresge Foundation
CEO,
American Ballet
Theatre
INTERVIEWER:
Bob Lynch
Associate Producing
Director, GALA
Hispanic Theatre
Maysoon Zayid
Comedian, Writer,
Actress
Holly Sidford
President,
Helicon Collaborative
Tim Dang
Producing Artistic
Director,
East West Players
*Americans for the Arts
Sunil Iyengar
Director of Research
and Analysis,
National Endowment
for the Arts
Jamie Bennett
Faye Nelson
VP of Public Affairs,
DTE Energy Foundation
Jon Imparato
Executive Director, Director of Cultural Arts, Los
Angeles LGBT Center
ArtPlace America
Francisco Nuñez
Aaron Dworkin
Artistic Director/Founder, Founder and President,
Young People’s Chorus of *Sphinx Organization
New York City
RESPONDENTS
Photo: Brian Surguine
With Generous Support from:
Bob Lynch - President and CEO, *Americans for the Arts
Damon Gupton - Actor
Clayton Lord - VP of Arts Advancement, *Americans for the Arts
Teresa Eyring - Executive Director, *Theatre Communications Group
Maud Lyon - Executive Director, Culture Source
Vince Paul - President and Artistic Director, Detroit Music Hall
Amy Fitterer - Executive Director, *Dance USA
Josephine Lee - Artistic Director, Chicago Children’s Choir
Sharon Jensen - Executive Director, *Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
Ali McManus - Sphinx Stars Finalist and Singer/Songwriter
Melonie Colaianne - President, Masco Corporation Foundation
Oliver Ragsdale - President and Artistic Director, Carr Center
Dr. Herman Gray - President, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Gary Anderson - Producing Artistic Director, Plowshares Theatre Company
Vivian Pickard - President, General Motors Foundation
Daniel Bernard Roumain - Solo Artist/Violinist
Chi-chi Nwanoku, MBE - Prof. of Double Bass Historical Studies, Royal Conservatory of Music
Tonya Allen - President and CEO, Skillman Foundation
Susan Feder - Program Officer for the Performing Arts, Mellon Foundation
Maria Luisa Carrillo - President, Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Izel
Phil Chan - Executive Editor, FLATT Mag
George Jacobsen - Program Officer, Kresge Foundation
Shaun Wilson - VP, Director of Client and Community Relations, PNC Financial Services
Michael Tiknis - President and Managing Director, Harris Theatre
Curtis Lipscomb - Executive Director, KICK Detroit
Emily Dievendorf - Executive Director, Equality Michigan
Karlos Rodriguez - Cellist, Catalyst Quartet
MODERATOR
George Galster - Professor of Urban Affairs, Wayne State University
FACILITATOR
Eric Booth - Arts Learning Consultant
Official
Hotel Sponsor:
*Founding Partners
Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts
Americans for the Arts
Association of Performing Arts Presenters
Center for Black Music Research
Chamber Music America
Chorus America
Dance USA
Diversity Affluence
International Society for the Performing Arts
League of American Orchestras
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture
National Association of Negro Musicians
National Black Arts Festival
In Partnership with:
National Guild for Community Arts Education
National Performance Network
Opera America
Sphinx Organization
Theatre Communications Group
VSA, Kennedy Center
Official
Technology Sponsor:
Powered by
Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder
Sphinx Virtuosi Tour Culminates to Rave Reviews
The Sphinx Virtuosi, one of the nation’s most dynamic classical ensembles,
spent the autumn of 2014 transforming lives through the power of diversity
in the arts in concert halls, classrooms, and even in the air! The ensemble,
which recently completed its 7th national tour, continues to reach new
audiences and commission new and historical works.
The Sphinx Virtuosi launched the tour with a return to the New World
Center in Miami and concluded with a final stop in New York City. This
annual performance at the legendary Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie
Hall was sold out and earned rave reviews, including one from New York
Times critic Anthony Tommasini, who heralded Sphinx Virtuosi as
“brilliant,” “excellent,” “rewarding,” and “inventive.”
Through funds provided by the Paul G. Allen Foundation, the ensemble broke new grounds by making debut
appearances in the states of Oregon, Montana, and Washington in addition to Indiana and Vermont. Sphinx
Virtuosi also made their annual visit to the Harris Theater in Chicago. A reviewer for the Chicago Critic said,
“What impressed me most [about] the Sphinx Virtuosi was their vibrant and energetic musicianship that
featured their complete skill set. These artists are fantastic talents that have arrived as world-class musicians.
After witnessing their talent, their artistic innovations, and their commitment to their craft, I can see that the
future of classical music is in good hands with these major talents.”
Photo: Nan Melville
One exciting feature of this tour was young violinist and composer Jessie Montgomery’s new commission
titled “Banner,” which The New York Times review described as “urgent” and “inventive.” “Banner” is a
rhapsody on the theme of the Star Spangled Banner. Drawing on musical and historical sources from various
world anthems and patriotic songs, Montgomery attempted to answer the question: What does an anthem for
the 21st century sound like in today’s multi-cultural environment?
2014 Sphinx Competition senior
division first place Laureate Xavier
Foley was the first bassist to win
the Competition and to tour as a
soloist with the Sphinx Virtuosi. Tim
Corpus of The Chicago Standard
wrote, “Foley’s solos were majestic and
personable, engaging the audience
with incredible command of his
instrument.”
Photo: Kimberly Warner
The national Sphinx Virtuosi tour
is made possible with the generous
support of The Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation, with additional support
Photo: Daniel Cavazos
from the Paul G. Allen Family
Foundation, Art Works, and Aetna. The Sphinx Virtuosi and Catalyst Quartet
are exclusively represented in North America by California Artists Management (www.CalArtists.com)
Sphinx Lessons Inspire Elementary Student to Compose!
Amina Smith is a participant in Sphinx’s Overture program, which provides
violins and lessons to underserved elementary school students in Detroit and
Flint, MI. Amina was so inspired by her Overture lessons that she used what
she learned to compose an entirely original piece, entitled ‘Second Nature,’
for herself and her class to perform at their end-of-year recital. This kind of
creativity and love of the arts is exactly what Sphinx aims to foster in the
young musicians who participate in this program. Amina’s teacher, Daniel
Winnick, told us, “Amina is a very driven, intelligent and creative person.” In
return, Amina says, “Mr. Winnick is like the best teacher ever!”
Overture students perform during the end of term recital in Flint, MI.
Sphinx Founder Named one of Musical America’s
30 Top Professionals of the Year
Sphinx is honored to share that our Founder and President Aaron Dworkin has been selected and featured in Musical
America’s December 2014 Special Report, “Profiles in Courage.” This year’s selected individuals are those who have taken
risks, stepped up for a cause, and spoken out where others have remained silent. The 2014 list features unprecedented
diversity and sheds light upon the work of many deserving leaders in music.
In addition to Aaron Dworkin, other Sphinx alumni, key partners and affiliates have been honored. The list of 30 top
professionals includes Stanford Thompson, a Sphinx Symphony Orchestra alumnus, Sphinx Medals of Excellence
recipient and past SphinxCon presenter; Michael Morgan, a Sphinx Symphony Orchestra Guest Conductor; Wu Han, a
Sphinx Honorary Committee member; Karen Zorn of the Longy School of music, one of Sphinx’s key artistic partners;
Robert Spano of the Atlanta Symphony, another key artistic partner; and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Susan
Feder, who will serve as a respondent at this year’s annual SphinxCon convening, as part of the “Innovation” session on
January 31st. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is the lead supporter of the Sphinx Virtuosi Tour and a key partner in
Sphinx’s work to further diversity and inclusion issues in our field.
Aaron P. Dworkin
Founder
400 Renaissance Center
Suite 2550
Detroit, MI 48243
Something
to Ponder:
“We have no hope of
solving our problems
without harnessing the
diversity, the energy, and
the creativity of all our
people.”
- Roger Wilkins
Q & A with
Melissa White
S ph i n x V i r t u o s i a n d S ph i n x
Competition alum and Harlem
Quartet founding member Melissa
White took the time to answer some
questions from The Quarter Note
about her journey as a violinist, her
Sphinx experience and her upcoming
projects!
Quarter Note: How did your journey
as a violinist begin? At what point
did you know you would make music
your career?
Melissa White: It was love at first
sight. I first laid eyes on a violin when
I was four years old while watching
Sesame Street. Itzhak Perlman was
the guest on this particular show
and he was playing his violin for
Grover. I simply liked the way his
chin fit perfectly in the chin rest and
I thought it looked like the perfect
instrument for a person to play. I
immediately asked my mom if I could
play the violin. She did not give me a
firm ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ so I begged for two
years. I asked Santa Claus, the Easter
Bunny, and even left a note with my
tooth for the Tooth Fairy. Finally
when I was six years old, I walked
home from school, and on the chair
was a little violin!!
I knew I wanted to make music my
career after my sophomore year of
high school. Until then, my mom
had been driving me five hours each
way from Lansing, MI to Winnetka,
IL for my violin lessons with Dr.
Roland & Almita Vamos. However,
administrative changes at my mom’s
workplace that year made it no longer
possible for us to make the drive. As
a result, I had a very slow year in
terms of my musical education and
ended up taking the entire second
semester off from playing the violin
all together.
When the school year ended, my
mom asked me if I still wanted to
play. Her question was jarring and
it made me realize that I hadn’t felt
complete the whole year without
having music as an integral part of
my life. I auditioned for Interlochen
Arts Academy and received enough
scholarship funds to attend their
boarding high school for my last two
years. My time at Interlochen was
magnificent and it was during that
transition that I knew that music
would be my career.
QN: You’ve performed around the
world, in a number of exceptional
locations. Is there a particular
performance that stands out as
especially meaningful or memorable
for you?
MW: I have been blessed to be
able to perform many concerts with
sensational artists around the world
and truly my entire experience as a
violinist has been most memorable!!
But, one absolute highlight would
be when the Harlem Quartet was
invited to perform at the White
House in 2009 for President Obama
and First Lady Michelle Obama.
I was so nervous that when the
President shook my hand and said,
“It’s nice to meet you,” I froze and
said “Yes.” I can still see myself in that
moment and writing this memory
makes me smile and laugh all over
again.
QN: Your involvement with Sphinx
began when you competed in the
Sphinx Competition at age 13, and
last year, you participated in the
Competition as a jury member. What
was that experience like for you?
MW: The Sphinx Organization has
been a major part of my career as a
violinist and I’m extremely grateful
for the wonderful opportunities
they have provided me. I love that
I was a competitor in the inaugural
competition and that I’ve literally
grown up with the Organization.
Returning as a juror last year was a
brand new experience for me because
it was my first time sitting on a jury
panel. It was not an easy task to judge
the beautiful musicianship we heard;
however, it was most inspiring to hear
all of the young talent and be a part
of the decision making process that
would continue helping to change
lives through classical music. It was
truly an honor to serve as a member
of the jury.
QN: What projects are you working
on now?
MW: I am currently on a two-week
southern U.S. tour with my fulltime group, Harlem Quartet. We’re
performing Bartok 2, Mendelssohn
O p. 8 0 , H a y d n O p. 7 6 N o. 1 ,
Chick Corea’s The Adventures of
Hippocrates, and other jazz tunes.
After Thanksgiving, I immediately
fly to Europe for several solo
engagements and I’ll be overseas until
Christmas. I have recitals in Paris,
London, and Wroclaw, Poland; and
I will also be performing Bernstein’s
Serenade with Piotr Gajewski in
Jelenia Gora and Katawice, Poland.
For more information on Melissa,
visit SphinxMusic.org/bio-melissawhite.html