Students learn to play instruments as part of the Sphinx Organization’s Overture program at the César Chávez Academy in Detroit.
“Like a number of institutions, classical music has been under recent pressure to diversify its ranks,” states Amna Nawaz in a report on Friday’s (4/14) PBS. “But one group in Detroit has been at it for a long time, and its reach now stretches across the nation. Jeffrey Brown reports on the Sphinx Organization … Brown: The Sphinx Organization [was] founded 25 years ago by Aaron Dworkin to diversify the world of classical music. Aaron Dworkin: When we were looking at the idea of founding Sphinx and beginning this work in this field … it was, how can we bring about systemic impact? How can we change the way that our orchestras are comprised? And, of course, most importantly, how can we make sure that high-level, high-quality music instruction is happening at all of our schools, and not just those with the most resources?… Brown: Sphinx now runs high-level intensive training programs; fields its own touring company, the Sphinx Virtuosi, 18 accomplished Black and Latino musicians; partners with more than 100 orchestras to promote diverse rosters and repertory; and now has a network of more than 1,000 alumni, many holding positions throughout the industry.”
