Sunday, October 5, 2008

Toledo Blade: 'Sphinx Organization aims to showcase African-American and Latin musicians'

[Aaron P. Dworkin (b. 1970), Founder/President, The Sphinx Organization]

Article published Sunday, October 5, 2008
THE SOUND OF DIVERSITY
Sphinx Organization aims to showcase African-American and Latin musicians
By SALLY VALLONGO
BLADE STAFF WRITER

DETROIT — Chelsea Tipton II, resident conductor of the Toledo Symphony, has been scarce this month on his home turf. But he's getting a lot of exposure around the country as maestro of the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra during its inaugural tour. Tipton and the SCO, plus its resident string group, the Harlem Quartet, will touch down for a performance at 2 p.m. Oct. 12 in Detroit's venerable Orchestra Hall. For some of the 25 players in this chamber group, it will be a homecoming of sorts because the Sphinx Organization, the musical advocacy group in which the SCO has grown and flourished, is based just up Woodward Avenue, at Wayne State University.

'In essence, it's a nonprofit arts organization with a primary focus to build diversity in classical music,' explained Afa Sadykhly, artistic director, in a recent interview. 'The specific goal is to build black and Latino musicians. We work with young people to foster their talent and give them the training they need at an early age,' added Sadykhly, a native of Azerbaijan. Founded by musician/organizer Aaron Dworkin in 1998, the Sphinx Organization seeks to level the classical playing field by transforming America's overwhelmingly white orchestras into a more accurate reflection of the country's population as a whole.

According to Dworkin, 93 percent of players in U.S. orchestras and 90 percent of conductors are white. The percentages grow even more unbalanced in classical music administration, he added during a 2007 talk at the Chautauqua Institute. But, he told a capacity audience, 'Our goal is not to pursue affirmative action in music but to achieve diversity.' Dworkin, born on Sept. 11, 1970, to a black father and white mother and put up for adoption, was raised by Barry and Susan Dworkin, both Manhattan science professors. Encouraged by Susan Dworkin, also an amateur musician, the young boy began violin lessons before he entered school. [Full Post] 
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