The Sphinx Organization honored musicians Anthony McGill, Tai Murray, and Elena Urioste—its inaugural three Sphinx Medals of Excellence recipients—at a black-tie dinner at the Supreme Court on March 15. Among attendees at the dinner with the three honorees were Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee; Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer; and League of American Orchestras President and CEO Jesse Rosen, Vice President for Learning and Leadership Development Polly Kahn, and Vice President for Advocacy Heather Noonan. The medals honor young black and Latino classical musicians who demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, spirit of determination, and leadership potential. Each award also carries at $5,000 honorarium. Anthony McGill is principal clarinet in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Tai Murray and Elena Urioste both have solo careers as solo violinists and were winners of the Sphinx Competition. The Sphinx Organization was established in 1996 by Aaron Dworkin to increase black and Latino participation in the field of classical music, bring music education to underserved communities, and to promote the creation, performance, and preservation of works by black and Latino composers.
Posted April 6, 2012
