Macon.com: 'Performances highlight black, Latino musicians' in Macon, Georgia Sept. 19 & 20

[Catalyst Quartet]

Macon.com

Friday, Sep. 16, 2011

Staff reports

“Sphinx Virtuosi, a nationally acclaimed orchestra featuring black and Latino musicians, will launch its 2011 national tour with performances Monday and Tuesday at The Grand Opera House. Founded in 1996, the group’s vision is 'a world in which classical music reflects cultural diversity and plays a role in the everyday lives of youth.'

“For the performance in Macon, talented young Sphinx Laureates Randall Goosby and Gabriel Cabezas, who won the national Sphinx Competition for young black and Latino string players, are featured. The performance includes classic works by Bartok, Bach and Schubert, as well as pieces by Alberto Ginastera, Alberto Golijov, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Juan Bautista Plaza and others.”

"As part of the Grand’s GrandKids Arts Education Series for elementary, middle and high school students, Sphinx will perform a one-hour concert twice daily, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are $7. There also will be a longer evening concert Monday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for adults. Tickets may be purchased by phone at (478) 301-5470, online at http://www.TheGrandMacon.com, or in person at the Mercer Ticket Sales office, 400 Poplar St."

[Aaron P. Dworkin (b. 1970) is Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization and is featured at AfriClassical.com]

Sphinx Laureate Plays Cello on "From the Top" Classical Music Radio Show

The website of SphinxMusic.org explains the organization's partnership with Public Radio International:

"From The Top radio show is created by Concert Productions, Inc. in association with WGBH Radio Boston and New England Conservatory of Music, and distributed by Public Radio International. This interactive program features world renowned pianist (and a member of the Sphinx Honorary Committee) Christopher O'Riley as the host, interviewing young musicians as well as collaborating with them on stage. As our artistic partner, each year From The Top features our 3 Junior Division Laureates in shows taped across the country."

This week's broadcast of "From the Top" features the 14-year-old cellist Gabriel Cabezas, a 2006 Sphinx Laureate. The program was first aired on May 2, 2007, and will remain available for online listening in the archives of "From the Top". Gabriel Cabezas plays the Andante from Sergei Rachmaninoff's Cello Concerto on the program. The NPR website quotes the young cellist on his recent performance opportunities:

"I've played with the Florida Symphony and New World Symphony, and I was also able to play with the Cleveland Orchestra a few months ago. Now that was an intimidating experience!"