Sphinx Virtuosi
“[The performance] opened with a propulsive, richly hued interpretation...which demonstrated the ensemble’s polish and tonal allure”
-
Since 2004, the Sphinx Virtuosi’s concerts have been presented by leading arts organizations in the US, including an annual return to Carnegie Hall – which has become an established highlight of their Fall season. Frequently selling out venues, the ensemble has garnered effusive accolades including from The New York Times that has described the group as "...top-notch...more essential at this moment than ever...a vibrant, assured performance..."; and The Washington Post that wrote “true to their name, the Sphinx Virtuosi call up the vision of an iconic mythological feline with its immeasurable power, unwavering command, and soulful beauty.”
-
Heralded as "...top-notch” (The New York Times) with “...immeasurable power, unwavering command, and soulful beauty” (The Washington Post), the Sphinx Virtuosi is equally diverse in the works the ensemble presents as the artist collaborations. From Denyce Graves to Sweet Honey in the Rock, the ensemble’s breadth of experiences continues to be one of the founding pillars of its continued success.
-
In an effort to highlight Black and Latinx living composers, expand its repertoire, and engage new audiences the ensemble’s commissions works have included major new works from Michael Abels, Terence Blanchard, Valerie Coleman, Xavier Foley, Jimmy Lopez, Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Carlos Simon.
The Sphinx Virtuosi is a dynamic and inspiring professional self-conducted chamber orchestra and serves as the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization – the leading non-profit dedicated to transforming lives through the power of the arts. Comprised of 18 accomplished Black and Latino artists who reflect the highest level of musicianship in America, a critical aim of the Sphinx Virtuosi is to evolve the breadth and impact of classical music through artistic excellence, pioneering programming, and impassioned community engagement. Its members serve as cultural ambassadors for audiences and communities around the United States and abroad.
Since 2004, the Sphinx Virtuosi's concerts have been presented by leading arts organizations, including annual return visits to Carnegie Hall as an established highlight of the fall season. Frequently selling out venues, the ensemble has garnered effusive accolades, including from The New York Times, which has described the group as "top-notch...more essential at this moment than ever...a vibrant, assured performance," and The Washington Post, which wrote "true to their name, the Sphinx Virtuosi call up the vision of an iconic mythological feline with its immeasurable power, unwavering command, and soulful beauty." Their debut album, Songs for Our Times, was released on Deutsche Grammophon in July 2023 and represents the rich history of the Sphinx Organization and the vibrant future of classical music by centering the artistry of extraordinary composers and artistic visionaries.
-
Their 2024-25 season includes performances for Washington Performing Arts and the John F. Kennedy Center, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Symphony Center Presents in Chicago, IL, and a return performance at the New World Symphony in Miami.
Heralded for its kaleidoscopically varied repertoire and bold thematic programming, Sphinx Virtuosi concerts give prominence to historically excluded composers such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Alberto Ginastera, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Florence Price, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and George Walker. In an effort to expand its repertoire and engage new audiences, the ensemble commissions new works annually. Commissions have included major new works from Michael Abels, Terence Blanchard, Valerie Coleman, Xavier Foley, Ricardo Herz, Jimmy Lopez, Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Carlos Simon.
Members of the Sphinx Virtuosi have performed as soloists with major American orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras. Members also hold professional orchestral and academic positions. The Sphinx Virtuosi’s community engagement initiatives regularly extend beyond masterclasses and workshops to members leading community empowerment initiatives within arts organizations and connecting with other Sphinx programming to further the mission of achieving excellence through inclusive programming. As a bilingual ensemble, these artist-citizens frequently break down existing barriers empowering the artform to connect with the broader community. During the pandemic, the ensemble found creative ways to connect with audiences and communities virtually through performances, panel discussions, masterclasses, Q&A sessions, and more reaching over 30,000 people across 20 organizations.
The Sphinx Virtuosi has collaborated with major artists such as Terence Blanchard, Denyce Graves, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Damien Sneed, Will Liverman, J'Nai Bridges, and Davóne Tines, among others. Outside of the classical realm, its musicians have also worked with leading international artists such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z and made high-profile appearances, including on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and the broadcast of the 2022 GRAMMY Awards.
Sphinx Virtuosi Tours are made possible through the support of Robert F. Smith, JPMorgan Chase, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Learn more at www.sphinxmusic.org/sphinx-virtuosi.
August 2024 – Please do not edit without permission.
Videos
Programs & Repertoire
-
PROGRAM
LEVI TAYLOR: Daydreaming (A Fantasy on Scott Joplin)*
SCOTT JOPLIN, arr. Jannina Norpoth, Jessie Montgomery: Treemonisha Overture**
SAMUEL COLERIDGE TAYLOR: Four Novelletten, Op. 52
JUANTIO BECENTI: Hané for String Quartet**
TERESA CARREÑO: Serenade for Strings, IV. Finale, Tempo di Marcia
DERRICK SKYE: American Mirror Part One**
CURTIS STEWART: Drill*Featuring Britton-René Collins, percussion
American Form/s is a musical tapestry depicting the many sounds of American classical music. Vibrant, varied, storied, and new, the self-conducted string orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi takes audiences on a journey through classically-framed infusions of soul, bluegrass, jazz, blues, and elements of rag. Works range from reimaginings of Joplin's joyous landscapes to the complex rhythms of Curtis Stewart and brilliant influences of immigrant composers like Teresa Carreño. Experience the intricate harmonies and world influences of Derrick Skye's writing, as well as modern interpretations of soul-stirring spirituals and more in this program carefully and collaboratively curated to celebrate the richness of the American musical landscape.
As an emerging soloist to watch, percussionist Britton-René Collins embodies the artistry and passion of contemporary percussion performance. A winner of the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, Britton-René has dedicated her art to shaping a more diverse and inclusive community for all musicians. A Grand Prize-winner of the 2022 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and the 2021 Chicago International Music Competition, Britton-René has performed as a soloist in the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has made several concerto appearances, including with the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Valdosta Symphony, and the Meridian Symphony.
* denotes commissioned by SV
** denotes arranged for SVProgram order is subject to change.
-
PROGRAM
JOSE WHITE: La Bella Cubana
CLARICE ASSAD: Perpetual Motion
CLARICE ASSAD: Danca Brasileira
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: New Commission (NWS/Carnegie Co-Commission TBD)
WILLIAM GRANT STILL: Suite for Violin OR Cello**
Sterling Elliott, Cello (Fall 2025 tour)
Randall Goosby, Violin (Spring 2026 tour)
****
QUENTON BLACHE: A Vision for Peace (NWS/Carnegie Co-Commission TBD)
SERGEI PROKOFIEV, Sonata No. 7 “Stalingrad”
ALBERTO GINASTERA: Concerto For Strings, Op. 33 IV. Finale
MANUEL PONCE: Estrellita* denotes commissioned by SV
** denotes arranged for SV
Visions of Peace In a unique convergence of musical voices, this program beckons us into a realm where music becomes an emissary of peace and unity. On this journey, we hope to lift every voice and remember our complex history while looking toward our shared journey toward a brighter tomorrow. We explore peace while remembering the conflict of past and present and recognizing the repeated history and the resilience of the human spirit. From William Grant Still, celebrated as the “Dean of African American Composers,” to Jose White's stirring Cuban melodies, every note resonates with our collective aspirations for harmony and understanding without borders. This is a collection of new voices, those that have already shaped our canon and those that we hope will continue to be celebrated long after our time together. As Alberto Ginastera's Concerto for Strings takes us toward a triumphant crescendo, you will join us in a jubilant celebration of the human spirit's indomitable resilience and our unwavering commitment to the pursuit of peace. We reflect on themes of war, anguish, and loss through Ruben Rengel's setting of Prokofiev's "Stalingrad" Sonata. Jessie Montgomery's music helps us transcend boundaries and borders, while our vision for shared humanity is brought together through Quenton Blache's title composition.
-
PROGRAM
Jasmine Barnes: Oh Shenandoah**
Original Song Cycle: Works TBC
Derrick Skye: American Mirror, Part II
Roberto Sierra: Sinfonietta for Strings
Jessie Montgomery: Banner
Igor Stravinsky: Concerto in D for string orchestra, “Basle”** denotes arranged for SV
Program is subject to change.
Projects
