The Best Young Black And Latino Classical String Players Perform In The Annual SPHINX COMPETITION

Detroit Public Television is proud once again this year to present an hour-long special of the Finals Concert of the 21st annual Sphinx Competition. It features the finest young Black and Latino string players vying for cash prizes of up to $50,000.

The CONTEST also gives them an opportunity to solo with an orchestra of established professional musicians, as well as experiencing what it is like to compete under the guidance of an internationally renowned panel of judges.

The Sphinx Organization is a Detroit-based nonprofit, which since 1997 has been dedicated to encouraging diversity in classical music and the other arts.

As a young black violinist, its founder, Aaron Dworkin, noticed the lack of diversity both on the stage and in the audience. Now, under the leadership of President and long-time Artistic Director Afa Dworkin, Sphinx's many programs involve over 100,000 students, and its live and broadcast events reach another two million annually.

But certainly one of the highlights of the year for both Sphinx and the Detroit musical season is the annual Finals Concert, which you can view tonight at 9 p.m. on DPTV (56.1).