Carnegie Hall

The Sphinx Virtuosi—a chamber orchestra comprised of eighteen of the nation’s top Black and Latinx classical soloists and alumni of the internationally renowned Sphinx Competition— returns to Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on Friday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. for its 17th annual gala celebration. As part of the Sphinx Organization—a Detroit-based social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts—the self-conducted ensemble presents Tracing Visions, a program set out to challenge and evolve the classical canon with music that celebrates the rich history of America and paves a new pathway for listening, sharing, and artistic expression.

The evocative program features music that includes Xavier Foley’s "Ev'ry Voice,” the composer’s vision of the Black National Anthem; Jessie Montgomery’s Banner, a work that unleashes this country’s many vibrant voices; and Andrea Casarrubios’s Seven, a tribute to heroes who fought to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic featuring cellist Thomas Mesa, winner of the 2016 Sphinx Competition. Bass-baritone Davóne Tines, a Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient, will be the gala’s guest soloist performing a new arrangement of the traditional song “Angels in Heaven” by Carlos Simon, a fellow medalist and Finzi’s “Come away, come away, death.”

Artist Information

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 López, 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 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 The Juilliard School, Curtis, and Cleveland Institutes of Music, the 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.

About the Sphinx Organization

The Sphinx Organization is the social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Sphinx's four program areas – Education & Access, Artist Development, Performing Artists, and Arts Leadership – form a pipeline that develops and supports diversity and inclusion in classical music at every level: music education, artists performing on stage, the repertoire and programing being performed, the communities represented in audiences, and the artistic and administrative leadership within the field. Sphinx programs reach more than 100,000 students and artists, as well as live and broadcast audiences of more than two million annually. Read more about Sphinx’s programs at www.SphinxMusic.org.

Program Information

Friday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
SPHINX VIRTUOSI
Thomas Mesa, Cello
Davóne Tines, Bass-Baritone

TRACING VISIONS

XAVIER FOLEY "Ev'ry Voice"
RICARDO HERZ "Inocente"
RICARDO HERZ "Mourinho"
ANDREA CASARRUBIOS Seven
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Banner
FINZI "Come away, come away, death" from Let Us Garlands Bring
TRAD. "Angels in Heaven" (arr. Carlos Simon)
GINASTERA Finale furioso from Concerto for Strings, Op. 33

The Sphinx Virtuosi concert and gala is made possible with lead support from Bank of America and Robert F. Smith.

 

Ticket Information

Tickets, priced at $25, are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org.

For Carnegie Hall Corporation presentations taking place in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, a limited number of seats, priced at $10, will be available day-of-concert beginning at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 noon on Sunday until one hour before the performance or until supply lasts with the exception of Weill Music Institute and gala events. These $10 tickets are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Carnegie Hall Box Office only. There is a two-ticket limit per customer.

In addition, for all Carnegie Hall presentations in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage a limited number of partial view (seats with obstructed or limited sight lines or restricted leg room) will be sold for 50% of the full price. For more information on this and other discount ticket programs, including those for students, Notables members, and Bank of America customers, visit carnegiehall.org/discounts. Artists, programs, and prices are subject to change.

Please note: Beginning this October, to support a safe reopening for in-person events and in accordance with the advice of medical and public health experts, everyone entering Carnegie Hall will be required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, everyone on Carnegie Hall’s premises will be required to wear a properly fitting mask over the nose and mouth at all times.