Tuesday, February 3, 2009

19-Year Old Cellist Tony Rymer is 1st Place Sphinx Laureate


[Tony Rymer performs with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra. Photo: Glenn Triest]

Sphinx Organization
(Detroit, MI) “As crowds lined up outside the Max M. Fisher Music center on Sunday, three young musicians prepared for a performance that could land them on stages across the country. Sunday’s Sphinx Competition Finals Concert was the exciting culmination of the 12th Annual Sphinx Competition presented by Chase. In the end, only one could be named First Place Laureate and it was Tony Rymer, a 19-year old cellist from Boston, Massachusetts. His performance of the fourth movement of Elgar’s Concerto for Cello in E Minor won him top honors. Anthony S. Glover, Senior Vice President of Chase presented a trophy to Rymer on stage.

“Second and third place honors went to Benjamin Harris and John Sanderson respectively. Harris is a 20-year old double bassist from New York, New York. Third place Laureate John Sanderson is a 19-year old violinist from Morgantown, Indiana. The concert also featured the unique all Black and Latino Sphinx Symphony Orchestra and guest artists Elena Urioste and Melissa White, both first-place Laureates of the Sphinx Competition. The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, which includes professional musicians from around the country, performed under the direction of Damon Gupton, a Detroit native.

“During the Junior Division Honors Concert, held at Ann Arbor’s Rackham Auditorium on Friday, Khari Joyner was named the First Place Junior Division Laureate. Joyner, a 17-year old cellist from Atlanta, Georgia was awarded prizes and scholarships including opportunities for solo appearances with major orchestras, and a performance on NPR’s From the Top.” “The jury panel for the 12th Annual Sphinx Competition Presented by Chase was comprised of professional musicians from around the country including Andres Diaz, Pamela Frank, Kim Kashkashian, Patinka Kopec and Awadagin Pratt. [The Founder/President of The Sphinx Organization is violinist Aaron P. Dworkin (b. 1970), who is profiled at AfriClassical.com]
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1 comment:

  1. StepsterFebruary 11, 2009 at 12:47 PM

    Great story. Tony is a beautiful cellist. This is the beginning of a great career for a cellist with a bright future. His exceptional talent was recognized early by Project STEP, the program that supported him with instruction and music education to help him reach his potential. We are so happy for him! BRAVO!

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