2023 Sphinx MPower Artist Grant Recipients Announced

The fifteen recipients have each been awarded payments of between $1,000 and $15,000

The Sphinx Organization recently announced the 2023 recipients of its MPower Artist Grants, which offer payments of between $1,000 and $15,000 to alumni of various Sphinx initiatives — including the Sphinx Competition, Sphinx Symphony, and Sphinx Virtuosi.

Four of the fifteen recipients were granted $10,000 or more. Tehvon Fowler-Chapman was awarded $12,000 towards a project where he creates new forms of digital engagement to allow listeners to connect with the operas of William Grant Still (1895-1978).

Bassoonist and composer Joy Guidry was awarded $10,000 towards the conception and recording of their second album of compositions. Flautist Catherine Ramirez also received a recording-focused grant, and will use her $10,000 to record an album of solo flute works by Latinx and Black composers from North, Latin, and South America.

Double bassist and educator Portia Dunkley received $13,230, which will go towards her emerging career as a children's author. Dunkley will use the grant to write and publish a range of new stories, which will contribute to increasing the visibility of diverse classical musicians.

The full list of recipients is as follows:

• Luis Eduardo Bellorín
• Kamilah Brown
• Michael Cantú
• Portia Dunkley
• Caitlin Edwards
• Tehvon Fowler-Chapman
• Maïthéna Girault
• Caleb Graupera
• Joy Guidry
• Joseph Guimaraes
• Amanda Perez
• Catherine Ramirez
• Abigail Regua
• Titus Underwood
• Elena Urioste

You can read each of their biographies, here.