“When the Sphinx Organization was founded 20 years ago to champion the work of young black and Latino classical musicians, there were painfully few artists to serve as role models, says Afa Dworkin, president and artistic director of the Detroit-based group,” writes David Lyman in Friday’s (10/27) Detroit Free Press. “ ‘When we started, the number of black and Latino musicians in American orchestras wasn’t even 2 percent,’ says Dworkin…. ‘The number has grown to 4.4 percent…. But … we have to do more.’ The annual Sphinx Competition, with more than $100,000 in prizes and scholarships, has done much to advance public awareness of these young performers. In 2004, the organization launched … the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra … now known as the Sphinx Virtuosi…. Says Dworkin, ‘They are involved in educational outreach, as well, and all sorts of community engagement.’ … Violist Drew Forde is in this year’s Virtuosi … He has a graduate degree from the Juilliard School [and his] musical taste is all over the place, from jazz to rock to hip-hop.” Says Dworkin, “His attitude and his spirit—that’s the future of our field.”
Posted November 2, 2017
