Sphinx Virtuosi 25th Anniversary tour features Black and Latinx artists; orchestra premiers two new works Friday at the SOU Music Recital Hall in Ashland
October 6, 2022. ASHLAND, OREGON. Britt Education, Chamber Music Concerts, and the Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU presents The Sphinx Virtuosi, a self-conducted chamber orchestra composed of eighteen Black and Latinx classical artists and composers. They will perform at the SOU Music Recital Hall Friday, October 7th at 7:30pm.
The orchestra serves as the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization—and takes its “Songs for Our Times” program on tour this fall season to eight cities. The program will include new Sphinx commissions by Valerie Coleman and Jessie Montgomery. Soloists include violinists 14-year-old Amaryn Olmeda, Hannah White, and Ricardo Herz, and cellist Tommy Mesa.
“Since its inception in 2004, this exceptional ensemble of dedicated and talented soloists has been one of Sphinx’s crown jewels. Having the Sphinx Virtuosi take its adventurous programs, inspiring performances, and commitment as ambassadors of diversity to communities throughout the country each spring and fall has been a significant milestone in Sphinx’s 25-year journey. This year’s program of premieres and performances by members of our extended Sphinx ‘familia’ truly encapsulates our overall mission to transform lives through the power of diversity in the arts. We invite all music lovers to come and experience the excitement and energy of the ‘Songs for Our Times’ program that not only acknowledges how far we’ve come and celebrates where we are now, but also anticipates a rich and diverse future,” said Afa S. Sworkin, Sphinx President and Artistic Director.
This year’s touring program is wholly composed and/or arranged by Black and Latinx artists and the Ashland concert will include the premieres of two new works: Tracing Visions by Valerie Coleman and Divided by Jessie Montgomery. Coleman’s Tracing Visions chronicles a parent’s love towards a child growing up in the middle of tumultuous, oftentimes dangerous social conditions, and insists that children of color have the right to grow up in safety and realize their potential. Composed at the time of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Coleman says the piece expanded past its initial conception to become a vehicle for collective grief.
The 25th Anniversary tour will include the ensemble’s first-ever international performance as part of the Sphinx Organization’s 25th anniversary season. On their tour, the ensemble will perform in Ashland, Eugene, Portland, New York, Buffalo, Cleveland, and Philadelphia with the tour culminating in its international debut in São Paulo, Brazil.
Tickets: $20 general admission; $15 seniors; Free student tickets; ages 12 and under free. The OCA Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 3:00pm – 6:00pm on the Southern Oregon University Campus for ticket sales or online at https://sou.universitytickets.com. For more information contact boxoffice@sou.edu.
About the Sphinx Virtuosi Ensemble:
Since its founding in 2004, the self-conducted ensemble Sphinx Virtuosi has defined itself as the most diverse professional chamber orchestra in the country. Made up of 18 of the nation’s top Black and Latinx classical soloists, Sphinx Virtuosi tours annually as cultural ambassadors to communities far and wide. Inspired by Sphinx’s overarching mission of transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, the Sphinx Virtuosi works to advance the social impact of music upon our greater society. Dedicated to new music, the ensemble has pioneered the discovery of works by composers of color, with the aim of expanding the canon and amplifying new and important voices. Among the many composers the ensemble has collaborated with are Michael Abels, Terence Blanchard, Xavier Foley, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jimmy Lopez, Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Kareem Roustom. Sphinx Virtuosi also perform works by a wide range of composers including John Adams, Bach, Bartók, Jennifer Higdon, Mozart, Schubert, and Shostakovich, woven into the carefully curated programs that combine risk, exploration, and homage. Sphinx Virtuosi have collaborated with Davóne Tines, Denyce Graves, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, Chicago Children’s Choir, Damien Sneed, and others. As individual artists, Sphinx Virtuosi have performed as soloists with America’s leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Seattle Symphony Orchestras. Members also hold professional orchestral positions, and several have been named Laureates of prestigious international competitions, including the Queen Elizabeth and Yehudi Menuhin competitions. Roster members are graduates of the nation’s top music schools, including Juilliard, Curtis, and Cleveland Institutes of Music, Eastman School, and beyond. Sphinx Virtuosi are passionate about empowering the next generation of artists and audiences, and as such, enjoy building interactive, bi-lingual (English/Spanish) programs and working with schools in underrepresented communities.
press release and photo from SOU
