VC LIVE | 2022 Sphinx Competition [LIVE NOW]

 

The Sphinx Organization, a US non-profit organization dedicated to the development of young American Black and Latin classical musicians, hosts a competition and conference every year to showcase young talent throughout America.

Originally slated to be held in Detroit with in-person participation, both will now be virtual-only owing to uncertainty over the COVID-19 variant developments.

The top prize in this year's Senior Division will receive the $USD 50,000 Robert Frederick Smith Prize plus a number of solo appearances with major American and European orchestras.

 

 

"We have made the difficult decision to hold the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition and SphinxConnect: Forging Alliances conference virtually with no in-person participation," Sphinx Foundation Executive Director Afa Dworkin said.

"The decision was made in light of the uncertainty over the COVID-19 variant development and ultimately to ensure the well-being of our community."

For this year, all candidates will perform their repertoire with a collaborative pianist submitted by video. Historically, the six Sphinx finalists from both divisions have performed live with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra at Detroit's Orchestra Hall.

All semi-finalists and finalists will also have access to scholarships and fine instrument loans through the Sphinx Music Assistance Fund.

SATURDAY JANUARY 29 | 7:00 PM (ET)

2022 SPHINX COMPETITION | JUNIOR DIVISION FINAL ROUND  

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

 

 

Jonathan Okseniuk (Violin) | Olga Gorelik (Piano)

• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major

 

Brandon Leonard (Cello) | Jeffrey Meeks (Piano)

• Haydn | Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major

 

Anna Isabella España (Violin)

• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major

 

 

SATURDAY JANUARY 29 | 7:00 PM (ET)

2022 SPHINX COMPETITION | SENIOR DIVISION FINAL ROUND  

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

 

 

Gabriela Lara (Violin) | Andrew Cannestra (Piano)

• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Violin Concerto in G minor

 

Harper Randolph (Viola) | Narae Joo Lee (Piano)

• R. Sierra | Viola Concerto

 

Kebra-Seyoun Charles (Double-Bass) | Umi Garrett (Piano)

• Andrés Martin | Bass Concerto No. 1

 

THURSDAY JANUARY 20 | 11:00 AM (ET)

2022 SPHINX COMPETITION | JUNIOR DIVISION SEMI-FINAL ROUND  

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

 

Each candidate will present two contrasting movements from a Solo Bach Sonata, Suite or Partita, the first movement of a Mozart, Hoffmeister, Haydn or Koussevitzky Concerto plus a work by William Grant Still, Jesus Florido, Piazzolla, Lawrence Brown, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, or Villa-Lobos. All works must be recorded live with piano and played from memory.

The Junior Final will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 7:00 PM ET and will be streamed here on The Violin Channel.

 

 

Maxwell Fairman (Violin)

• Bach | Sonata No. 2 in A minor | Grave & Fuga
• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• William Grant Still | Summerland

 

Jan Vargas Nedvetsky (Cello)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 3 in Major | Prelude & Sarabande
• Haydn | Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major
• Villa-Lobos | Song of the Black Swan

 

Rebecca Beato (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor | Sarabande & Gigue
• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• William Grant Still | Summerland

 

Nazeeh Shahid (Viola)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor | Prelude & Gigue
• Hoffmeister | Viola Concerto in D Mahor
• Piazzolla | Oblivion

 

Ian Barnett (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor | Siciliana & Presto
• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• Traditional (Arr. Jesus Florido) | Ballada Española

 

Kearston Gonzales (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor | Siciliana & Presto
• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• William Grant Still | Summerland

 

Joseph Escobar (Double-Bass)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major | Sarabande & Gigue
• Koussevitzky | Double-Bass Concerto in F-Sharp minor
• William Grant Still | Summerland

 

Anna Isabella España (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor | Adagio & Fuga
• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• William Grant Still | Summerland

 

Brandon Leonard (Cello)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor | Sarabande & Gigue
• Haydn | Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major
• Villa-Lobos | Song of the Black Swan

 

Jonathan Okseniuk (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor | Grave & Allegro
• Mozart | Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major
• William Grant Still | Summerland

 

 

 

 

THURSDAY JANUARY 20 | 2:15 PM (ET)

2022 SPHINX COMPETITION | SENIOR DIVISION SEMI-FINAL ROUND  

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

 

Each candidate will present two contrasting movements from a Solo Bach Sonata, Suite or Partita, a work by William Grant Still, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Gabriela Lena Frank, Piazzolla, Roberto Sierra, Marlos Nobre, David Baker, or Lawrence Brown plus a work of any format that best represents their artistry. All works must be recorded live with piano and played from memory.

The Senior Final will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 7:00 PM ET and will be streamed here on The Violin Channel.

 

 

 

Thierry de Lucas Neves (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor | Adagio & Fuga
• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Violin Concerto in G minor
• William Grant Still | Suite for Violin and Piano

 

Andres Ayerbe (Cello)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major | Prelude & Gigue
• Villa-Lobos | Cello Concerto No. 2
• Marlos Nobre | Poema III

 

Alexandra Switala (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor | Grave & Allegro
• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Violin Concerto in G minor
• Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson | Blue/s Forms for Solo Violin

 

Santiago Vazquez-Loredo (Viola)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major | Prelude & Gigue
• Roberto Sierra | Viola Concerto

 

Harper Randolph (Viola)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major | Prelude
• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor (Viola Transcription) | Adagio
• William Grant Still | Carmela

 

Gabriela Lara (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor | Chaconne
• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Violin Concerto in G minor
• William Grant Still | Suite for Violin and Piano

 

Juan-Salvador Carrasco (Cello)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major | Prelude & Sarabande
• Villa-Lobos | Cello Concerto No. 2
• Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson | Lamentations "Black/Folk Song Suite"

 

Jesus Linarez (Violin)

• Bach | Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor | Adagio & Fuga
• Samuel Coleridge-Taylor | Violin Concerto in G minor
• William Grant Still | Suite for Violin and Piano

 

Kebra-Seyoun Charles (Double-Bass)

• Bach | Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major | Prelude & Gigue
• Andrés Martin | Bass Concerto No. 1
• Traditional (Arr. Lawrence Brown) | Spirituals: Five Negro Songs

 

The 2022 jury comprises Zuill Bailey, Danielle Belen, Juan-Miguel Hernandez, Patrice Jackson, Midori, Laura Snyder, and Melissa White.

 

 

The parallel SphinxConnect conference will take place Thursday, January 27 through Saturday, January 29 online also with more than 70 speakers participating in over 20 sessions. This year's distinguished guest speakers include Grammy and MacArthur Award-winning musician and Artistic Director of Silkroad, Rhiannon Giddens, and The Juilliard School Preparatory Division Dean Weston Sprott.

The Violin Channel will also stream selected live discussions from the conference.

Full schedule available at: www.sphinxmusic.org/sphinxconnect

 

 

 

 

 

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