Semi-Finalists Announced for 2016 Black & Latino Sphinx Competition

The 9 Junior and 11 Senior Semi-Finalists have today been announced for the 2016 Sphinx Competition, to be held in Detroit, USA from the 3rd - 7th February.

The 20 2016 Semi-Finalists are:

• Nicholas Abrahams (15, Violin)
• Matthew David Adams (16, Violin)
• Ifetayo Ali (13, Cello)
• Nicholas Arredondo (17, Bass)
• Kayla Cabrera (17, Viola)
• Tristan Flores (17, Violin)
• Eileen Moudou (17, Violin)
• Maria Sanderson (16, Violin)
• Myles Yeazell (17, Cello)

• Jordan Bak (21, Viola)
• Michael Christopher Casimir (24, Viola)
• Alex Gonzalez (25, Violin)
• Annelle Gregory (20, Violin)
• Thomas Mesa (25, Cello)
• Guilherme Nardelli Monegatto (21, Cello)
• Samuel Nebyu (22, Violin)
• Aaron Olguin (21, Bass)
• Ruben Rengel (20, Violin)
• Allegra Whiting (18, Cello)
• Marza Merophi Wilks (23, Cello)

Open to American Black and Latino classical string soloists 26 years and younger, the Senior 1st prize winner will receive US $50,000 – and a number of prestigious solo engagements.

Previous 1st prize winners include VC ‘Young Artist’ Elena Urioste.

The 2016 jury will comprise: Aaron P. Dworkin (Chairman), Timothy Eddy, Charles Hamlen, Clive Gillinson, Jessie Montgomery, Kirsten Docter and Alexandra Soumm .

PICTURED: 2016 SPHINX COMPETITION SENIOR SEMI-FINALIST, SAMUEL NEBYU.