In Thursday’s (1/9) New York Times, Allan Kozinn writes, “The Sphinx Organization, which provides music education programs and performance training for minority students and also presents an annual orchestral concert at Carnegie Hall, has received a $4 million gift from an anonymous donor, its executive and artistic director, Afa S. Dworkin, said on Wednesday.… Ms. Dworkin said in an email that the gift would allow the organization to augment its ‘professional, career development and educational pursuits by launching scholarships at pre-college, collegiate and post-graduate levels.’ Among the programs that will immediately benefit from the gift is Sphinx’s national competition for black and Latino string players, held annually. The top prize in the senior division (for students 18 to 26) will be increased to $50,000 from $10,000. The junior division prize (for students under 18) rises to $10,000 from $5,000. Sphinx is also planning to add a competitive scholarship program for alumni of its competition and its performing ensembles, as well as a training program for young minority conductors, to be undertaken in partnerships with several American orchestras. The participating orchestras have not been announced.”
Pictured: Sphinx Virtuosi at Carnegie Hall, 2012. Photo by Ruby Washington
Posted January 9, 2014
