Chelsea Tipton II Conducts Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall

(Photo by Matt H., Jay K. Hoffman & Associates, Inc.)

Maestro Chelsea Tipton II is Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. His prior positions and his prolific work as a guest conductor have given him considerable exposure to leading U.S. orchestras. His agent, Jay K. Hoffman & Associates, Inc., elaborates at its website:

“As a sought-after guest conductor, Tipton has appeared with major orchestras in the United States, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, among others.”

The agent explains that Tipton prepared himself for careers in both conducting and clarinet performance:

"Tipton earned a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from the Eastman School of Music, with additional studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Pierre Monteux School for Conductors in Hancock, Maine."

As a clarinet player, Chelsea Tipton II performed with numerous major orchestras and virtuoso instrumentalists, and recorded for three record labels. He has taught at Central Michigan University as an Assistant Professor, and was also Director of the Central Michigan University Band. Tipton has also been a Visiting Professor in clarinet and chamber music at Western Michigan University. His bio continues:

"Prior to his appointment with the Toledo Symphony, Tipton was Associate Conductor with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for four seasons and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra for three seasons."

As noted on this blog on July 28, 2007, in a post entitled “Black and Latino String Players at Carnegie Hall”, Chelsea Tipton II is the conductor for the “Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall”, at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 in the Stern Auditorium. An Afterglow will be held in the Rohatyn Room & Shorin Club at Carnegie Hall. The Sphinx Organization summarizes the evening's performers and repertoire:

“The concert will feature the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, comprised of top alumni of the prestigious Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players, under the direction of Maestro Chelsea Tipton II. Top Sphinx Competition Laureates will be performing as soloists, and the Harlem Quartet will also perform. Inspired by Sphinx’s artistic mission of building diversity in classical music, the program will offer standard repertoire along with masterpieces by Black and Latino composers.”

Aaron Dworkin, Founder/President of Sphinx Organization, Born Sept. 11, 1970

(Photo: Aaron Dworkin & Trevor Ochieng, 2004 1st place Jr. Division Laureate, Sphinx Competition)

Aaron Paul Dworkin was born in Monticello, New York on Sept. 11, 1970 to White and Black parents. At the age of two weeks he was adopted by a White couple in New York City. He began playing the violin at age five. When Aaron was 10, the family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania, which had only one Black family. Racism made life difficult for him there. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and received his Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan.

He was often the only student of color in a Violin class. It was not until college that he was introduced to the rich classical repertoire of Black composers such as William Grant Still. He decided one way to bring about racial diversity in the study, performance and enjoyment of classical music was to help young string students of color prepare for careers as performers in major orchestras. In 1996, while still a graduate student at the University of Michigan, Aaron became Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization, which organized a national competition for Black and Latino string students. That is why he is honored as a Musician of African Descent at the website AfriClassical.com

With the support of JPMorganChase, Dworkin guided the organization through its 10th Annual Sphinx Competition in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Feb. 7-11 2007. The organization's home page is SphinxMusic.org, which sets out its mission: “Sphinx envisions a world in which classical music reflects cultural diversity and plays a role in the everyday lives of youth”. This uplifting goal is a powerful invitation for Black and Latino students, and for students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, to enrich their lives with classical music. For children, SphinxKids.org is a collection of interactive resources such as Minorities on Stage, Orchestration Station, String Instrument Gallery, Music Match – Composers, and Music Match – Instruments.

Recognition has come in many forms, such as: 2006 Newsweek Giving Back Award; 2005 MacArthur Fellowship or “Genius Grant”; 2005 National Governors Award; 2003 Michigan Governor's Award; and selection as 2003 Michiganian of the Year, by The Detroit News.

Dworkin has served on the Boards of Directors of the University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, ArtServe Michigan, Walnut Hill School, and WRCJ-FM Public Radio in Detroit. He has been a speaker on the topic of diversity in the arts at national conferences of the American Symphony Orchestra League, Suzuki Association, Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, and National Association of Negro Musicians.

Aaron's personal website, EthnoVibe.com, includes this observation: “As a musician and a writer, I have experienced the power that the arts possess to bridge racial and cultural divides and touch a mosaic of people from differing backgrounds and communities."

Radio host Dick Gordon interviewed him in detail on the American Public Media program The Story, Feb. 16, 2007. The 50-minute broadcast Music for All is an intimate conversation which includes excerpts of classical works of William Grant Still, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Joseph Haydn. It is still available in the program archives. Among the most recent press coverage is a video clip of Aaron speaking at Chatauqua on Aug. 22, 2007, on the topic: “Music: Heart, Soul and Dollar”.

“The Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall” will be presented on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 by JPMorgan Chase, featuring the nation's top young Black and Latino string players. Music critic Anthony Tommasini reviewed last year's concert at Carnegie Hall in The New York Times, Oct. 27, 2006:

“The concert at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday evening offered typical fare: a string chamber orchestra playing works by Mozart, Villa-Lobos and others. But the audience, far from the typical classical music crowd, was overwhelmingly black and Latino, and most were children. Onstage as well, all the players were young black and Latino musicians. It was a sight you rarely encounter at Carnegie Hall.”

It is also a sight made possible by the vision and leadership of the Founder/President of the Sphinx Organization. Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Black and Latino String Players at Carnegie Hall

The life and career of the violinist Aaron P. Dworkin have been honored for several years at his page at AfriClassical.com,
http://chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/Dworkin.html

Aaron Dworkin was born to White and Black parents and was adopted by a White couple in New York City at the age of two weeks. He began playing the violin at age five. When Aaron was 10, the family moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania, which had only one Black family. Racism made life difficult for him there. He graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, and received his Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan.

Dworkin is Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization, which held its 10th Annual Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino string players in Ann Arbor and Detroit earlier this year. Last year, The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra gave a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Anthony Tommasini reviewed the concert in The New York Times, Oct. 27, 2006:

The concert at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday evening offered typical fare: a string chamber orchestra playing works by Mozart, Villa-Lobos and others. But the audience, far from the typical classical music crowd, was overwhelmingly black and Latino, and most were children. Onstage as well, all the players were young black and Latino musicians. It was a sight you rarely encounter at Carnegie Hall. ... In addition, Sphinx runs a successful competition for string players, also supported by JPMorgan Chase. Every member of the 20-piece Sphinx Chamber Orchestra that performed on this occasion, as well as each impressive soloist, was a past or current prizewinner.

On the heels of its sell-out success in 2006, the Sphinx Organization has proudly announced the Sphinx Laureates Concert at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 6 p.m.:

Sphinx Returns to Carnegie Hall

The Sphinx Organization, celebrating 10 years of building diversity in classical music, is excited to return to Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007. The Sphinx Laureates concert will feature the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra comprised of top alumni of the Sphinx Competition under the direction of Maestro Chelsea Tipton II, as well as the Harlem Quartet and top Laureates performing as soloists. Inspired by Sphinx’s artistic mission, the program will offer standard repertoire along with masterpieces by Black and Latino composers. The significance and value of this performance is immeasurable as it represents not only the incredible performance opportunity for young musicians, but also, a strong impact on diverse audiences by exposing them to the highest level of artistry reflected within the minority community. JPMorgan Chase has given more than $100 million through grants and sponsorships to thousands of not-for-profit organizations around the world, including the Sphinx Laureates at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Support for the Sphinx Organization is given through the Community Life program, which emphasizes offering a culturally rich life for residents in order to create communities where people want to live and work. JPMorgan Chase’s long-standing support of community arts and culture includes arts giving, civic enhancement and programs that address cultural enrichment and diversity. The mission of the Sphinx Organization is to increase the participation of Blacks and Latinos in music schools as professional musicians, as classical music audiences, and to administer youth development initiatives in underserved communities through music education. Sphinx works to address this mission through five main program areas: ARTIST DEVELOPMENT (highlights the Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players and the Sphinx Symphony, along with a series of scholarship initiatives) SPHINX PREPARATORY MUSIC INSTITUTE at Wayne State University (provides Detroit area youths with yearlong classes in performance, music theory/ear training and music history). Overture Division of Sphinx Prep provides free instruments and group and individual violin lessons to young people in Detroit and Flint, MI) SPHINX PERFORMANCE ACADEMY at Walnut Hill School (offers intensive summer training to aspiring Black and Latino musicians who lack access to quality music education) SPHINX CLASSICAL CONNECTIONS (helps teachers implement music education in their in-class curriculum) SPHINX PRESENTS! (offers professional performance and exposure opportunities to Sphinx solo artists and ensembles including the Harlem Quartet, New York school residencies and highlighting the Sphinx Artist Series at Carnegie Hall)

Sphinx Organization www.sphinxmusic.org info@sphinxmusic.org 646-429-1987 x710