Vol. 13, No. 2

The Quarter NoteSpring 2012

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C hicago natives dominated the 15th Annual Sphinx

Competition presented by the DTE Energy Foundation with additional support provided by Pickard Family Fund, taking first place in both the junior and senior divisions.

Ade Williams, 14, a violinist from Chicago, IL, took top honors in the junior division. Her performance of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 earned her a prize of $5,000 and performance opportunities with orchestras around the country, which will include New World Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Florida Orchestra, South Bend Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Hilton Head Symphony and others. Other award recipients in the junior division were; Lev Mamuya, cellist, second place; and violinist Tristan Flores was third place.

Born in Chicago, cellist Gabriel Cabezas took top honors in the senior division with his stunning performance of Elgar’s Concerto in E Minor. Not only did Cabezas become one of a select few to win both the junior and senior division, but he is also the first-ever recepient of the Audience Choice Award sponsored by Mercedes- Benz Financial Services. As this years’ winner Cabezas, 19, earned more than $11,000 in cash prizes, has already performed with the New York Philharmonic and has upcoming performances with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Prince George’s Philharmonic and others. Other award recipients in the senior division were: Francisco Vila, cellist,

second place; Danielle Wiebe, violist, third place; and Rainel Joubert, violinist, fourth place.

Continuing the Sphinx Organization’s commitment to contemporary music and composers of color, the Finals Concert also featured the works of Jessie Montgomery, a Sphinx Alumna and Van Lier Composer Fellow at the American Composers Orchestra. As featured guest artists at the Finals Concert, the Catalyst Quartet gave a riveting performance of Strum (2012) for String Quartet by Montgomery. In honor of Sphinx’s 15th anniversary, Montgomery also arranged Sphinx 15: Symphonic Delights which comprised two pieces written for the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra; Symphony of the Sphinx by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson and Delights and Dances by Michael Abels.

The Competition participants performed with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra throughout the week. The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra is comprised of professional musicians from around the country, received support from the National Endowment for the Arts this year and performed under the direction of prominent conductor and music director of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Michael Morgan.

We certainly want to again thank our audiences and supporters, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Anne Parsons, and the University of Michigan for your commitment to making our Finals Concert a huge success.

Ade Williams, first place junior Laureate and Gabriel Cabezas, first place senior Laureate. Photos: Glenn Triest.

Chicago Natives Take FirstPlace at Sphinx Competition

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

Sphinx Honors Rising Stars with Sphinx Medals of Excellence

On March 15, Sphinx honored three young musicians whose accomplishments distinguish them among musicians of color: Anthony McGill, Tai Murray, and Elena Urioste. The three were the recipients of the inaugural Sphinx Medals of Excellence. The recipients were honored at a black-tie dinner in Washington D.C. Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer were among the attendees.

The Sphinx Medals of Excellence honor young Black and Latino leaders in classical music who demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, and leadership potential. The awards also carry a $5,000 honorarium to further these burgeoning careers.

“The incredible success that Anthony, Tai, and Elena have already achieved is a clear indication that artistic excellence is a critical factor in advancing diversity in classical music,” said Sphinx Founder and President, Aaron P. Dworkin. Dworkin went on to state, “these artists truly embody what we do at Sphinx: transform lives through the power of diversity in the arts.”

This year marks a landmark year for the Sphinx Organization as

we celebrate our 15th anniversary and we are thrilled to be preparing for our upcoming Carnegie Hall performance. The 2012 Sphinx Virtuosi Gala at Carnegie Hall, co-presented by Bloomberg and the Sander and Norma K. Buchman Fund, will take place on Tuesday, October 9th at 6 p.m. in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium. This year’s event is lead by Honorary Chair, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and has already received leadership support from Reggie Van Lee as an Angel Sponsor and Deidre and William Bounds. Irvin Mayfield, renowned jazz trumpet player and artistic director of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra will be the guest artist. Sphinx Board Members Andrea Hoffman and Diana Bianchi Moison, and Sphinx Advocate Kristen Denner will be co-chairs for the event.

A Night of Artistic Excellence:Sphinx Virtuosi Gala at Carnegie Hall

“Through sustained support from our co-presenters, Bloomberg and the Sander and Norma K. Buchman Fund, and all of our committed supporters, Sphinx provides young musicians of color the opportunity to perform on one of the world’s greatest stages,” said the organization’s Founder and President, Aaron P. Dworkin.”

The concert directly promotes Sphinx’s mission to build diversity in classical music on stage, in the audience, and through the performance of works by composers of color. This October performance and gala will continue to be a celebration of diversity and artistic excellence, and we hope you will join us for this truly remarkable evening. For information regarding sponsorship opportunities and ticket reservations, please contact Alison Piech at (646) 429-1987, ext. 709 or Alison@SphinxMusic.org.

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

Editor: Lindsay VanfleterenContributors: Andre Dowell, Aaron Dworkin, Afa Sadykhly Dworkin, Alison PiechDesign & Layout: Julie Renfro

Honorary CommitteeBranford Marsalis, ChairCarter Brey Glenn DicterowDavid FinckelNikki GiovanniWu HanIda KavafianAni KavafianNigel KennedyJaime LaredoTania LeónYo-Yo E. MaMark O’ConnorChristopher O’RileyItzhak PerlmanToby PerlmanAndré PrevinAwadagin PrattBright ShengLeonard SlatkinNadja Salerno-SonnenbergArnold SteinhardtMichael Tilson ThomasGeorge WalkerJeffrey Zeigler

Board of DirectorsDeidre Bounds, ChairHoward Hertz, Vice ChairAnthony Glover, TreasurerCarl Herstein, SecretaryRachel Barton PineDiana Bianchi MoisonRoland CarterMartha DarlingAaron DworkinKenneth FischerMaxine FrankelPatricia GarciaSandra GibsonLinda GillumNorman HerbertAndrea HoffmanMarianne LockwoodJenice Mitchell FordMajorie PearsallVivian PickardDavid RudolphCassandra Seidenfeld LysterSally Stegeman DiCarloAnne TaylorKathy WeaverBeverly WillisDamian Woetzel

© 2012 Sphinx Organization400 Renaissance Center, Ste 2550Detroit, MI 48243 313-877-9100info@SphinxMusic.orgwww.SphinxMusic.org

Sphinx Presenter

Margaret A. Cargill FoundationScherman FoundationLeague of American OrchestrasTUKTAWA FoundationMichigan Non-Profit AssociationSkillman FoundationErb Family Foundation

Irving Harris FoundationMcGregor FundSurdna FoundationKresge FoundationRuth Mott FoundationMax M. & Marjorie S. Fisher FoundationCommunity Foundation for Southeast Michigan

I am“I LOVE SPHINX! I’m really excited for all the amazing opportunities Sphinx will provide!” – Ade WilliamsSphinx Competition, first place junior division Laureate

PRESIDENT’S NOTEDear Friends,

Much like the blossoming spring flowers this season, Sphinx is also flourishing with many exciting events and opportunities. We have completed programs that have been transformational in the lives of many, but are also moving forward with new initiatives to help us further change the face of classical music. As I reflect on our 15th Annual Sphinx Competition, the captivating, inspirational performances from our talented winners, Ade Williams and Gabriel Cabezas, stand out in my mind. I would like to extend our deepest thanks to all who made this year’s Sphinx Competition possible including a special thanks to the University of Michigan who generously made arrangements for the Hill Auditorium to be available for our

Finals Concert. I believe it is situations such as this that reinforce the true power of music. Programs such as the Sphinx Competition are a core part of the Sphinx mission and I am thrilled to be expanding our impact with new events including the inaugural Sphinx Medals of Excellence. This exciting occasion in Washington, D.C. honored Anthony McGill, Tai Murray and Elena Urioste, three young musicians whose accomplishments distinguish them among musicians of color. I admire and applaud the musical creativity and genuine dedication of these artists, and because of support from individuals like you, Sphinx is able to aid them in furthering their promising careers in classical music. My reflection of this Sphinx season would not be complete without recognizing our amazing leaders for the 2012 Sphinx Virtuosi Gala at Carnegie Hall. I am honored to share that long-time Sphinx supporter and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma is serving as our 2012 Honorary Chair. In addition, our co-chairs are Sphinx Board Members Andrea Hoffman and Diana Bianchi Moison, and Sphinx Advocate Kristen Denner. This October performance and gala will continue to be a wonderful celebration of artistic excellence and diversity. Clearly, Sphinx is thriving in numerous ways and I hope to see you embrace the future opportunities to not only support, but also truly feel the Sphinx experience!

- Aaron

www.53.com

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

SPHINX NEWS

Chelsea and Camryn Washington, both Sphinx Prep students, won the grand prize for their anti-drinking and driving video at the Courageous Persuaders banquet. They will have the opportunity to go to a production studio, where they will make the video ready for broadcasting. By August, it will air on Channel 2 and various other channels as a PSA, and the video will also air continuously in all of the Secretary of State offices in the State of Michigan. To view Chelsea and Camryn’s orignial video entry, go to http://youtu.be/NPCKnhIPzXU.

Sphinx Prep student Myles Harlan was recently featured on the Look to the Stars website for his involvement in the Usher New Look Foundation. Myles also performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensemble in their recent Philharmonic Orchestra concert. In addition, Myles was selected to perform on oboe with professional classical musicians at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Grosse Pointe Woods.

The Catalyst Quartet visited Colombia May 20th through May 27th at the invitation of the United States Embassy. They worked in collaboration with the Narcotics Affairs Section to use music as a tool to reach underserved communities, helping individuals understand that there are other alternatives to drug abuse.

In August, Sphinx and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation team up to bring you the grand finale blowout of Random Acts of Culture (TM) at the Compuware World Headquarters in Campus Martius, downtown Detroit. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@SphinxMusic) for the inside scoop. It is the worst-kept secret in town and it is not to be missed - be there!

Send us your news and performance updates: QuarterNote@SphinxMusic.org

Farewell to a LeaderIn memoriam Ruben Acosta

In March 2012, members of the Detroit community paid their respects to Ruben Acosta, a beloved community leader and an exceptional attorney. A co-managing partner of the Detroit business law firm Williams Acosta PLLC and a board member of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Acosta also served as Sphinx’s immediate past Board Chair. His untimely passing came at age 52, after a difficult yearlong battle with brain cancer.

In his role as Chair of the Board for Sphinx, he was genuinely inspired by the talents of the young artists served by the organization and saw music and access to music education as powerful avenues for transforming and enriching the lives of others. Mr. Acosta was a tireless advocate for the quality of life, environmental and economic well-being in the Hispanic community. He served as the attorney for the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, in addition to his role as chair of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber’s legislative conference in 2006. Additionally, he was a board member of and general counsel for the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Acosta received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. The Sphinx family will cherish the memory and wonderful contributions of Mr. Acosta and sends its deepest condolences to his family.

Dr. Arthur L. JohnsonMemorial Lecture ConnectsSocial Justice and the Arts

Arthur Johnson was a remarkable man whose commitment and work to advance social justice was an inspiration to our community. He also believed strongly in the important role the arts have in society and on February 11, 2012, Johnson’s legacy was honored at the Inaugural Dr. Arthur L. Johnson Memorial Lecture.

The evening paid tribute to Arthur Johnson, while also honoring Arthur Mitchell with the Arthur L. Johnson Award. The award and lecture reinforces and shares the idea that social justice is connected to and supported by the arts, and that both are needed for a community to thrive. In the 1950s Arthur Johnson came to Detroit to lead the NAACP while Arthur Mitchell joined the New York City Ballet, where he quickly rose to the position of premier danseur. A self-described “political activist through dance” Mitchell went on to establish the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1969, to provide performance and educational opportunities in dance and the allied arts. Mitchell’s lecture focused on his journey as an educator and advocate for diversity in the arts.

“As co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and through his advocacy and commitment to arts education and social justice, Arthur Mitchell embodies the legacy and message of Arthur Johnson and serves to inspire us all,” said Sphinx President and Founder Aaron Dworkin.

The event would not have been possible without the support of the GM Foundation and Compuware. We also thank all of the advocates of the event: American Express; Tom and Carol Goss; University of Michigan; and the Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation. The impact Arthur Johnson and Arthur Mitchell have had on society transcend Detroit and dance, and Sphinx was honored to recognize both men.

Dr. Arthur L. Johnson

Arthur Mitchell

Young Musicians Wanted for New CompetitionAre you a young musician living in Detroit? Want to showcase your skills and compete for a chance to win a grand prize of $5,000 and performance opportunities in our community?

Sphinx Stars: Detroit! is open to elementary, middle and high school students 18 and under in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland.

Visit SphinxStars.org to learn more about this exciting new competition.

Cellist Gabriel Cabezas was named first place

Laureate of the 2012 Sphinx Competition in February. Gabe took a few minutes out of his schedule at the Curtis Institute of Music to answer a few questions from The Quarter Note.

QuarterNote: What music are you listening to these days?

400 Renaissance CenterSuite 2550Detroit MI 48243

Somethingto Ponder:

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent”-Victor Hugo

Gabriel Cabezas: Radiohead, Wilco, and Glenn Gould’s recordings of Bach!

QN: What music are you playing these days?

GC: I’m playing a lot of chamber music, and am also working on a movement of Schumann concerto for a concert in a few weeks.

QN: What is your biggest challenge right now?

GC: My biggest challenge would have to be finding enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do!

QN: What do you enjoy about being involved with Sphinx?

GC: Sphinx is great for me in a lot of different ways, but what I really love is getting the chance to meet a lot of people and make new friends.

QN: What are your plans for the summer and next fall?

GC: I’m going to be at Marlboro for my second summer and will be continuing at the Curtis Institute in the fall.

QN: What’s your career goal?

Q & A with Gabriel Cabezas

GC: I’m not sure if I have a real career goal; I’m just trying to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.

QN: Other than the cello, what do you enjoy doing?

GC: I like a lot of things. I guess some would include cooking, watching movies, and watching soccer games!

Visit www.SphinxMusic.org to see video of Gabe’s performance at the 2012 Sphinx Competition Finals Concert.

Photo: Glenn Triest

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder