The Quarter Note Vol. 11, No. 1 Winter 2010 13th Annual Sphinx Competition Semi-Finalists Announced

nq November, entries poured in Brendon Elliott of Newport the Leef Peeper Concert Series; At stake are cash prizes from all over the country for the News, VA; Mariana Cottier- Atar Arad, a violist and professor totaling more than $25,000, 13thI annual Sphinx Competition Bucco of Norristown, PA; Anna at Indiana University; cellist Paul performance opportunities with for young Black and Latino string Maria Litvinenko of Miami, FL; Katz who is on the faculty of orchestras around the country, players presented by DTE Energy Kenneth Alexander Jones-Madrid the New England Conservatory scholarships to top summer Foundation. From the preliminary of Evanston, IL; Juan-Salvador of Music; Jose Serebrier, the programs and universities, and a round, 18 young musicians have Carrasco of Santa Monica, CA; recording on the Naxos label. Grammy-winning conductor been invited to travel to Ann and Xavier Foley of Marietta, GA. and composer; Joel Smirnoff, Arbor and Detroit to participate The 2010 Sphinx Competition is The semi-finalists of the senior violinist and conductor, President presented with generous support as semi-finalists in the Sphinx of the Cleveland Institute of Competition. The Competition division are: Victor Sotelo of from DTE Energy Foundation. Music, and first violinist of the begins on February 3 and , IL; Gareth Johnson of Wellington, FL; Javier Orman of Juilliard Quartet; and Nokuthula For information on tickets to the culminates in the Finals Concert Finals Concert on February 7 in on February 7, which will be Charleston, SC; Paul Laraia, III of Ngwenyama, a concert violinist , MA; Britton Riley of Ann and violist. Detroit, visit us online at www. recorded for broadcast on PBS SphinxMusic.org. stations. Arbor, MI; Nicholas Villalobos of Provo, UT; John Martin “We had an incredibly talented Sanderson of Bloomington, IN; Sphinx Students Need You! pool of applicants this year—many Yunior Fernandez of Las Vegas, new faces as well as some past NV; and Lianna Dugan of participants,” said Sphinx Artistic Oberlin, OH. By donating to Sphinx, Director and Vice President of Every year, Sphinx assembles a you will help us to provide Programming Afa Sadykhly. lessons, instruments, and “We’re looking forward to a distinguished panel of jurors who great week with all these talented judge the Competition, provide incredible opportunities musicians.” feedback to all participants, and for young people. conduct masterclasses. This year, This year’s semi-finalists range in for the first time, a past Sphinx Please consider a gift to Competition Laureate will be on age from 13 to 25, and hail from help further our mission. 14 states. Four of them play , the jury panel. Joseph Conyers, a bassist in the Atlanta Symphony eight are violinists, four are violists, Inside, you can read more and two are bassists. and second-place Laureate of the 2004 Sphinx Competition, will about our successes from The junior division semi- join the panel of distinguished this past fall, and about finalists are: Andrew Gonzalez jurors. The panel also includes the support we need for of Chesapeake, VA; Annelle Sanford Allen, the first Black Photo: Glenn Triest Gregory of San Diego, CA; permanent member of the New the upcoming year. Randall Goosby of Bartlett, TN; York Philharmonic and director of vvv 2010 Sphinx Competition Semi-Finalists vvv

Andrew Gonzalez Annelle Gregory Randall Goosby Brendon Elliott Mariana Cottier-Bucco Anna Maria Litvinenko

Kenneth Jones-Madrid Juan-Salvador Carrasco Xavier Foley Victor Sotelo Gareth Johnson Javier Orman

Paul Laraia Britton Riley Nicholas Villalobos John Sanderson Yunior Fernandez Lianna Dugan Editor: Stephan Bobalik Contributors: Stephan Bobalik, Alison Piech, Aaron Dworkin Design & Layout: Julie Renfro SCO Tour Wrapup

A year ago in The Quarter Note, Sphinx Founder and President Aaron P. Dworkin was quoted talking about how the Sphinx Founder/President Aaron P. Dworkin Chamber Orchestra tour was a long-time dream come true. This year, the tour not Board of Directors Ruben Acosta, Chair only happened again, but grew. Jenice Mitchell Ford, Vice-Chair Anthony Glover, Treasurer “Last year was our first foray into touring, Kurtis T. Wilder, Secretary Deidre Bounds Martha Darling and it was a great success — eight Aaron P. Dworkin Kenneth C. Fischer performances across the Midwest and Howard Hertz Al McDonough east coast,” said Dworkin. “This year, we Daedra McGhee David Rudolph increased the number of performances by Beverly Willis more than fifty percent, reached the east and The Harlem Quartet performs at Carnegie Hall. Board of Advisors west coasts, and the orchestra earned some Photo: Nan Melville Rachel Barton Pine, Chair stellar reviews along the way.” Michael Abels Sanford Allen David Cerone Mark Clague Ronald A. Crutcher Dominique de Lerma The tour began on September 13 at Bowling Green State University and included thirteen performances Matthew Derr Roberto Diaz stretching from New York to North Carolina to California. In conjunction with each performance, Anthony Elliott Guillermo Figueroa members of the Orchestra and Harlem Quartet visited community centers, schools, and music programs Sandra Gibson Kelly Hall-Tompkins Juanita Jackson Polly Kahn for the community engagement activities that are a crucial part of the Sphinx mission. In total, more Christopher Kendall Margaret M. Lioi than 12,000 people heard the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra perform. Christian Matjias Lolita Mayadas Charlene J. Mitchell Lester Monts Daniel Roumain Anne Parsons Looking back after the conclusion of the tour, Dworkin could not have been more pleased. “Everyone Willis Patterson Juan Ramirez on tour showed so much dedication. Every performance, whether at Carnegie Hall or a community Sebastian Ruth Stephen Shipps engagement concert in a school gym, was first-rate,” he said. “I commend all the musicians on a job well George Taylor George Trudeau done and thank all the presenters for their support.” Albert Webster Honorary Committee The tour this fall included several highlights. In , the Orchestra and Harlem Quartet Branford Marsalis, Chair performed at the grand opening gala of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. In Nikki Giovanni Ida Kavafian New York, the annual Sphinx Artist Series at Carnegie Hall was sold-out and received a rave review Ani Kavafian Nigel Kennedy Jaime Laredo Tania Leon in The New York Times. Reviewing the concert, Allan Kozinn used words like “sumptuous,” “virtuosic,” Yo-Yo E. Ma Mark O’Connor “beautifully phrased,” and “zesty.” Christopher O’Riley Itzhak Perlman André Previn Leonard Slatkin Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg At Carnegie Hall, Sphinx honored Roberta Flack with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her Michael Tilson Thomas George Walker contributions to music education. Sheila C. Johnson, who served as event chair for the concert, presented the award. The audience cheered as Flack accepted the award and recounted her journey from © 2010 Sphinx Organization learning , to enrolling at Howard University, to teaching choir, and, of course, embarking on the 400 Renaissance Center, Ste 2550 career that carried her to international fame. Detroit, MI 48243 313-877-9100 www.sphinxmusic.org [email protected] The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra Tour was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Musical Encounters, the series of community engagement and school performances that Sphinx Presenter accompany the tour, is supported by Target. Sphinx Chamber Orchestra and Harlem Quartet tours are booked and managed by Sciolino Artist Management of New York. For more information visit them online at www.samnyc.us. Sciolino Artist Management also represents Sphinx Laureates Elena Urioste and Juan-Miguel Hernandez.

Bank of America

Bingham Trust The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Mr. David Rockefeller Black United Fund of Michigan

The Kresge Foundation Lula C. Wilson Trust Claire Giannini Fund Aaron Copland Fund Margaret A. Cargill Charles Stewart Mott Scherman Foundation The Max & Victoria Dreyfus Leo S. Guthman Fund The Loraine & Melinese Reuter Foundation Foundation Foundation, Inc. Foundation

Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins PRESIDENT’s note

Dear Friends,

During this holiday season, we celebrate and enjoy music in the company of our family and friends. Your continued support of Sphinx’s work ensures that the joy of music can be shared year round with our talented young students and artists.

Every year, students like Alivia, who you see on the cover of this newsletter, pick up a violin for the first time in Sphinx Overture. Just this past November, as you will read, the invited Sphinx students, like David Valentine II, to the Forum for classes with master artists. This year, 2009 Sphinx Laureate Tony Rymer performed as a soloist during the Boston Pops opening concert. And in February, Sphinx Competition semi-finalists and Sphinx Symphony Orchestra members from across the country will come together to learn, share, and celebrate diversity in classical music. Each of these opportunities is unique to Sphinx. Each of these opportunities needs your support.

Without a doubt, we have all felt the effects of the economy this year. For the young people and families we reach, this year has been one of the most challenging in recent memory. Yet, we have seen demand for our programs soar.

That’s where you come in. Your support empowers young people to realize their potential. Your gift of $50, $100, or more will ensure that students like Alivia, David and Tony will have these experiences for years to come.

There’s no better time than now to give the gift of music.

Photo: Glenn Triest With best wishes, Aaron Dworkin Founder and President

During this season of I support Sphinx because... giving, honor a music lover or musician in your “ Every day, Sphinx exposes young people to life by making a gift to culturally diverse classical music, something they may have never known before.” Sphinx! - Delroy Lindo, Actor

When you make a gift, Sphinx will send a personalized card letting “ Music education should them know a gift has been be a part of every child’s life.” made in his or her honor. - Sheila C. Johnson, Entrepreneur

This is a unique way to give the gift of music while supporting Sphinx as we “ Sphinx musicians play so fiercely, and with so continue to build diversity much energy and intelligence, that it is extremely powerful.” in classical music. - Roberta Flack, Songstress Sphinx Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient SPHINX NEWS 13th Annual Sphinx Competition SPHINX UK for young Black & Latino String Players presented by Big Ben, fish and chips, and the Tower Bridge are just a few things you might associate with London. Add to that list Sphinx. This fall, Sphinx formalized a partnership with the Southbank Centre, a multi-tenant arts center similar to in New York, that will pave the way for expanded programming in the United Kingdom and Europe. The partnership will create new opportunities for American Sphinx artists abroad and expand the reach of Sphinx’s mission of promoting diversity Finals Concert in classical music. February 7, 2010 To celebrate the launch of Sphinx|UK, American Ambassador Louis B. Susman and his wife, Marjorie, invited the Harlem Quartet to SAVE THE DATE! perform for nearly 100 guests during a reception at Winfield House, the ambassador’s official residence in Regent’s Park. In November students from Sphinx Prep attended a During their trip in October, the Harlem Quartet also visited schools in rehearsal of the Plymouth-Canton Symphony Orchestra underserved areas of London for community engagement performances. in conjunction with the Ford Made in America program. These performances, which were made possible by a grant from the Composer Joseph Schwanter was with the orchestra working Embassy in London, reached nearly 1,000 students, and with them on his Chasing Light, a piece he wrote for the Ford elicited positive reactions from teachers. “The whole school was excited Made in America program. Following rehearsal, the students by the event and [the Harlem Quartet] provided a great context for our enjoyed lunch with Schwanter and disussed his work. Thanks children,” said Robert Adediran of London Music Masters after the to Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services Quartet’s performance at Jessop School. “It is so important at this early for making this special event possible. stage in their musical development to have these inspirational moments, and this morning will be a memory that lives long.” Anthony Elliott, professor of cello at the University of Michigan, will conduct the Sphinx Symphony Orcestra “We see the real impact from our work in the US increasing every year, during the Sphinx Competition in February. but cities like London face similar issues with diversity and equality in the arts. We see this expansion of our work as a way to add to Cellist and 2007 Laureate Gabriel Cabezas performed the opportunities we can offer our artists, spur on the international at Chicago’s Music in the Loft in October. Christina movement to build diversity in the arts, and increase the educational Castelli, violin, a 2005 Laureate, performed a recital there and performance opportunities available to underrepresented minorities in November featuring works of Saint-Saens, Prokofiev, in the UK and Europe,” said Sphinx Founder and President Aaron P. Gershwin, Brahms, and MITL’s composer-in-residence Conrad Dworkin. Tao. Khari Joyner, 2009 Laureate, will perform the Elgar Cello Sphinx has established partnerships with several London orchestras and Concerto in E minor with the New World Symphony London Music Masters in addition to the Southbank Centre. Through Orchestra on December 10 and 11. these partnerships, Sphinx will encourage more cross-cultural exchanges, develop an ongoing series of performances and activities celebrating Tony Rymer, 2009 Laureate, will perform with the Cleveland diversity in the arts, and share best practices with partner organizations Orchestra in their Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Series to assist them in their own efforts to build diversity among their on January 17 and the Florida Orchestra on January 21. audiences and performers. Violinist Melissa White, 2001 Laureate, performed with Watch future issues of The Quarter Note for more updates from London. Christopher O’Riley on From the Top on the episode that was broadcast the week of December 7. White was one of the show’s alumni invited back to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

The Harlem Quartet performed as featured artists during two events at the White House in early December and will perform on The Today Show on December 25.

In December, Gabriel Cabezas, the junior division first-place Laureate of the 2007 Sphinx Competition joined cellist and Sphinx Honorary Committee member Yo-Yo Ma for two televised performances. They performed on the Tavis Smiley Sphinx staff meet Show on December 7 and on with staff from Lon- Good Morning America on don Music Masters. December 14. Photo: Mike Sivak Sphinx Prep Students Visit the White House

The closest most people will get to the White House is the front gate. But for a group of Sphinx students, the front gate was merely a short stop on their way to the .

The White House invited Sphinx to bring a group of students to Washington, D.C. on November 4 for the Classical Music Forum. The dozen students who were selected to go were treated to an afternoon with four master teachers, violinist , cellist , pianist and 2009 Sphinx Competition juror Awadagin Pratt, and classical guitarist Sharon Isbin.

One student in particular made the most of the opportunity to learn from teachers of such a high caliber in the White House. Though told beforehand there would not be an opportunity to play during the day, David Valentine II, a piano student at Sphinx Prep, boldly stood and asked Awadagin Pratt if he could indeed play. Pratt, so impressed with his gumption, invited Valentine to play and then exhorted the group of students to make the most of every opportunity, saying, “…every opportunity that is presented to you, take, just as David has done.”

Jada Wright-Greene, Director of Education and Youth Development at Sphinx, recalls her own excitement that day and seeing the expressions on the faces of the students as First Lady Michelle Obama entered the room to speak. “My heart raced and everyone in the room was star struck to be so close to Mrs. Obama.”

John Madison, dean of Sphinx Prep, describes the students’ reactions to the trip as awestruck and grateful. “In speaking with our students about their experience, they described this as an opportunity of a lifetime, a life-enhancing moment, and one for which they are very grateful.”

Harlem Quartet Performs at White House

In early December the Harlem Quartet performed at two receptions hosted by the White House. The invitation to Washington came after a busy fall season which saw the Quartet return as featured soloists on the national Sphinx Chamber Orchestra Tour. The Quartet also performed by invitation with Itzhak Perlman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and made its London debut performing at the residence of the US Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Of the performances, Aaron Dworkin stated “The Harlem Quartet brought their passion and talent to the White House for guests from across the country, while also emphasizing the role that diversity must play in the arts at the national level.”

Co-managed by Sciolino Artist Management (SAM) of , and the Sphinx Organization, the Harlem Quartet conducts residencies across the country and serves as principal faculty at the Sphinx Performance Academy and visiting faculty at the Sphinx Preparatory Music Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit. They return to Detroit for the 13th annual Sphinx Competition Finals Concert on February 7, 2010 as the featured guest artists.

Photo: Tia Williams Be sure to tune in on Christmas morning as the Harlem Quartet performs holiday selections on The Today Show on NBC! 400 Renaissance Center Suite 2550 Detroit MI 48243

Something to Ponder:

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing.

-John Erskine

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