SphinxConnect And Sphinx Competition Brings Black And Latinx Classical String Players To Center Stage

The Sphinx Organization, famed for opening doors for young minority musicians, will be raising its baton once again this weekend for its annual celebration of arts and diversity.

This year, the Finals Concert in the Sphinx Competition will move to Saturday night, offering junior high through college Black and Latinx string players the opportunity to vie for nearly $100,000 in prizes.

Starting tonight and running through Saturday's concert, SphinxConnect will convene artists and leaders in diversity for networking, master classes, inspiring speakers and gifted performers.

Once again, Detroit Public TV will be there to provide digital access to all the action and excitement through its live-streaming service.

Based in Detroit and under the leadership of President and Artistic Director Afa Dworkin, the Sphinx Organization has earned international renown for its tireless championing of diversity in the arts. It has fostered a love of music in hundreds of young performers, many of whom have gone onto careers in orchestras around the country.

Aaron Dworkin founded the organization 22 years ago while still an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan, where he is now a professor. While performing or attending concerts, he was acutely aware of the lack of diversity both on stage and in the concert halls. Sphinx set out to remedy this deficiency.

Besides the prize money, the Sphinx Competition offers young Black and Latinx classical string players a chance to compete under the guidance of an internationally renowned panel of judges and to perform with established professional musicians in a competition setting. Its primary goal is to encourage, develop and recognize classical music talent in underrepresented minority communities.

SphinxConnect, which is entering its third year, takes place at the Westin Book Cadillac. It will feature more than 30 sessions designed to ignite action, 60 speakers, a curated showcase featuring some of the nation's top musicians, keynote addresses by luminaries and trailblazers, a special session for entrepreneurs, professional development and job placement opportunities, and much more.

Learn more about the amazing Sphinx organization at: http://www.sphinxmusic.org/about/