The 19th annual Sphinx Competition, presented by the DTE Energy Foundation, welcomes 20 of the nation’s top young Black and Latino string players. In partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the competition will take place in Detroit, MI from February 3 - 7, 2016.The semi-finalists are divided into two divisions based on age. The junior division of the competition culminates in the Honors Concert, which will be held on Friday, February 5 and the senior division Finals Concert will be held on Sunday, February 7. The Finals Concert will be streamed live via the Sphinx website and recorded for national broadcast on PBS

stations, including Detroit Public Television.The Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble of professional musicians from around the country, will be led by Guest Conductor Maestro Andrew Grams. Brasil Guitar Duo, winner of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and hailed by Classical Guitar magazine for its “maturity of musicianship and technical virtuosity,” will be the guest artists.

For more information on tickets to the Honors and Finals Concerts, please visit sphinxmusic.org/concert-and-ticket-info.html

Semi-Finalists Announced in 19th Annual Sphinx Competition

with Top Prize of $50,000Presented by

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Vol. 17, No. 1

The Quarter NoteWinter 2016

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Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

Nicholas Arredondo, 17, bassThe Colburn SchoolTeacher: Peter Lloyd

Matthew David Adams, 16, violinHomeschooled

Teacher: Gabriel Pegis

Nicholas Abrahams, 15, violinAlexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts; Teacher: Elizabeth Faidley

Ifetayo Ali, 13, celloWhitney Young High School

Teacher: Hans Jensen

Kayla Cabrera, 17, violaHomeschooled

Teacher: Matthew Mantell

Tristan Flores, 17, violinNew England ConservatoryTeacher: Donald Weilerstein

Eileen Moudou, 17, violinRichard Montgomery

High SchoolTeacher: Lya Stern

Maria Sanderson, 16, violinHomeschooled

Teacher: Mimi Zweig

Myles Yeazell, 17, celloWalnut Hills High SchoolTeacher: Alan Rafferty

Michael Christopher Casimir, 24, viola; The Curtis Institute; Teacher:

Roberto Diaz, Hsin-Yun Huang

Jordan Bak, 21, violaNew England Conservatory

Teacher: Dimitri Murrath

Thomas Mesa, 25, cello Manhattan School of Music

Teacher: Julia Lichten

Rubén Rengel, 20, violinCleveland Institute of Music

Teacher: Jaime Laredo

Allegra Whiting, 18, celloEastman School of MusicTeacher: Steven Doane

Marza Merophi Wilks, 23, celloNew England Conservatory of Music

Teacher: Paul Katz

Alex Gonzalez, 25, violinCarnegie Mellon University

Teacher: Cyrus Forough

Aaron Olguin, 21, bassUniversity of North TexasTeacher: Jeff Bradetich

Samuel Nebyu, 22, violinTemple University

Teacher: Eduard Schmieder

Annelle Gregory, 20, violinUSC Thornton School of Music

Teacher: Glenn Dicterow

Guilherme Nardelli Monegatto, 21, cello; Indiana University

Teacher: Peter Stumpf

Reflections from a Competition Alum“As a 16 year old kid from Savannah, GA, Sphinx meant to me that I wasn’t alone. I will never forget my first year [as a semifinalist in the Sphinx Competition] back in 1998 and meeting for the very first time young musicians of color who were as passionate about classical music as I was. That was special. My experiences with my newfound friends and Sphinx family were beautifully and uniquely different. My experience at the competition encouraged me to work that much harder at the art form that I had fallen in love with and dedicated my life to.Now, as a professional musician, I can look on the Sphinx Organization and see the profound impact that it is having in the world. Sphinx, just by its mere existence, is starting a dialogue in the classical music world about relevance, diversity, and inclusion. That fact alone makes me a very proud alum of this highly celebrated and lauded organization! Sphinx has provided me opportunity, from the Inaugural Allen Award to recently being named an MPower Grant Recipient. These awards have enabled me to grow my own organization that supports access to music education for youth. It is my hope that my own organization can have the same impact on the youth we serve that the Sphinx Organization has had on me.”–Joseph Conyers

To make the Sphinx Competition and opportunities like this possible, please see the enclosed giving envelope

to make a donation today!

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

Dear friends,

I hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits and enjoying the end of the year with great family and friends! As Sphinx wraps up a year of immense change and transition, I want to thank our Sphinx family and friends who have truly made it possible for us to thrive and continue expanding our reach and programs. This year, we have seen a Sphinx Virtuosi tour with a number of very successful first-time stops, new guest artist opportunities for our educational programs, and so many other areas of growth. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of you for your support and for sharing our passion for our mission.

It feels appropriate, at this time of reflection and gratitude, to feature in this newsletter the personal stories of some of our artists. It is immensely meaningful to us at Sphinx to witness the lives that our programs have transformed, and it is an honor to be able to share a snapshot of those transformations with the rest of our Sphinx family. I encourage you all to read the stories of our featured musicians, and to appreciate the part you have played in making their journeys, and those of many other Sphinx artists like them, possible.

Thank you again and I wish everyone a wonderful season and a happy and healthy New Year!

Warmly,

Afa

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

Sphinx CompetitionPresenter

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Stella & Frederick LoebCharitable Trust

ADMINISTERED BY

www.53.com

Editor: Therese GoussyContributors: Andre Dowell, Afa Dworkin, Abigayl Venman, Xavier Verna

Design & Layout: Julie Renfro

Honorary CommitteeBranford Marsalis, ChairGlenn DicterowDavid FinckelNikki GiovanniWu HanIda KavafianAni KavafianNigel KennedyJaime LaredoTania LeonYo-Yo E. MaMark O’ConnorChristopher O’RileyItzhak PerlmanToby PerlmanAndré PrevinAwadagin PrattBright ShengLeonard SlatkinNadja Salerno-SonnenbergArnold SteinhardtMichael Tilson ThomasGeorge WalkerJeffrey Zeigler

Board of DirectorsWilliam H. Carson, ChairAnne L. Taylor, Vice ChairAnthony Glover, TreasurerDeidre Lambert-Bounds, SecretaryRachel Barton PineMartha DarlingAfa S. DworkinKenneth FischerSandra GibsonNorman HerbertHoward HertzAndrea HoffmanMarianne LockwoodMajorie PearsallVivian PickardSally Stegeman DiCarloKathy WeaverBeverly WillisShaun Wilson

© 2016 Sphinx Organization400 Renaissance Center, Ste 2550Detroit, MI 48243 313-877-9100info@SphinxMusic.orgwww.SphinxMusic.org

Special Artistic AdvisorYo-Yo Ma

Bloomberg Philanthropies

With Generous Support from:

Sphinx Artists Perform at the White House

On September 25, 2015, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and Madame Peng Liyuan for an Official State Visit which included a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House.

The Sphinx Organization was proud to have a string quartet present to welcome the guests as they entered the White House. Sphinx musicians included Ade Williams, Isabel Escalante, Mira Williams, and Khari Joyner. NE-YO, a Grammy award-winning singer, also performed at the State Dining Room after the dinner. Special guests included American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, NBA’s Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, Actor Lee Daniels, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, and many others.

Ade Williams Isabel Escalante

Mira WilliamsKhari Joyner

Founding PartnersAlliance for Inclusion in the ArtsAmericans for the ArtsAssociation of Performing Arts Presenters Center for Black Music ResearchChamber Music AmericaChorus AmericaCulture Shift LabsDance USAInternational Society for the Performing ArtsLeague of American Orchestras

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs National Association of Latino Arts and Culture National Association of Negro MusiciansNational Black Arts FestivalNational Guild for Community Arts EducationNational Performance NetworkOpera AmericaSphinx OrganizationTheatre Communications GroupVSA, Kennedy Center

Alexandra SoummViolin

Paul SmithBritish Council

Trey DeveyCincinnati Symphony

Orchestra

Chris DaggettGeraldine R. Dodge

Foundation

Brasil Guitar Duo

DouglasBitonti StewartMax M. & Marjorie S.

Fisher Foundation

LaTosha BrownGrantmakers for

Southern Progress

Robert AdediranLondon Music Masters

Horst AbrahamParagon Consulting Group

and Ross School of Business,University of Michigan

Aaron DworkinSchool of Music,

Theater, and Dance, University of Michigan

Carla DirlikovMezzo Soprano

Marshall MarcusEuropean Union Youth

Orchestra

Paul HogleDetroit Symphony

Orchestra

Mark HansonHouston Symphony

Kelly Hall-TompkinsViolin

Maurine KnightonNathan Cummings

Foundation

Sharnita C. JohnsonGeraldine R. Dodge

Foundation

Ayanna HudsonNational Endowment

for the Arts

Peter LandgrenCollege-Conservatory of Music (University

of Cincinnati)

Glenda PriceDetroit Public

Schools Foundation

RESPONDENTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)Cheri Alexander - Ross School of Business, University of Michigan Laurie Baefsky - ArtsEngine and Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities, University of MichiganMikel Bresee - College for Creative StudiesMark Clague - School of Music, Theater, Dance at University of Michigan Lara Davis - Seattle Office of Arts and Culture Susan Feder - Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Yesenia Herrington - Austin ISDRon Himes - The Black Rep and Washington UniversityChacona Johnson - Wayne State University Lee Koonce - Ballet HispanicoMyran Parker-Brass - Boston Public School Vince Paul - Music Hall Center for the Performing ArtsJames Rose - French horn and DeloitteRev. Larry Simmons - Baber Memorial A.M.ECaen Thomason-Redus - Detroit Symphony OrchestraNick Tobier - STAMPS School of Arts and DesignMark Wallace - Detroit Riverfront Conservancy

ARTHUR L. JOHNSONAWARD RECIPIENT

Anna Deveare Smith

FACILITATORJamie BennettArtPlace America

PLENARY SPEAKERMike Muse

Muse Recordings

PRESENTERS & PANELISTS

FEBRUARY 5 - 7, 2016DETROIT, MI

REGISTER NOW! www.SphinxCon.org

Thomas ZurbuchenSpace Science and

Aerospace Engineering, Entrepreneurship Education,

University of Michigan

With Generous Support from:

In Partnership with:Hotel Sponsor:

Phillip Wm. Fisher,in honor of Aaron Dworkin

At SphinxCon, leaders present ideas, tools, and inspiration to spark conversation and action focused on diversity in the arts.

Sphinx Returns to Carnegie Hall

for a Night of Artistic Excellence and Diversity!A highlight of the 2015 Sphinx Virtuosi tour was, as always, our annual Carnegie Hall performance and gala.

The sold-out concert garnered very positive reviews, including a write-up in the New York Times by Vivien Schweitzer. The piece praised the Sphinx Virtuosi’s “polish and tonal allure,” the “dynamic performance” by the Catalyst Quartet and the “dexterity and expressive flair” of featured soloist Hannah White.

After the show, Sphinx was honored to share the rest of the evening with several major supporters of the Sphinx Virtuosi tour and Carnegie Hall performance at the Afterglow reception. This VIP event included remarks from Sphinx President and Artistic Director Afa Dworkin and Sphinx Board Chair Dr. William H. Carson, as well as a special address by 2014 Sphinx Competition junior division first place Laureate and Sphinx Virtuosi member Sterling Elliott.

The Sphinx Virtuosi, one of the nation’s most dynamic ensembles, recently completed their 2015 national tour. Over the course of seven weeks, these talented musicians transformed lives through the power of diversity in the arts from coast to coast! The ensemble’s 8th national tour, entitled Inspiring Women, saw several exciting facets:Thanks to the generous support from Linda and Stuart Nelson, The Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation and the University Musical Society, the Sphinx Organization commissioned a new work by Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient Gabriela Lena Frank. “Cuentos Errantes,” which featured the composer at the piano, was premiered in Ann Arbor, MI on September 27, 2015. As Ms. Frank wrote about the new work: “Cuentos Errantes (Wandering Stories): Four New Folk Songs for piano and strings draws on the utopian concept of mestizaje as envisioned by the Peruvian writer, José María Arguedas in which cultures can co-exist without one subjugating another. As a mixed race American-born mestiza, I’ve long been enamored with the poetry, music, and cuisine of my mother’s beautiful homeland of Perú, and explore these in my compositions.” To illustrate these elements, the movements referenced charango guitars, harawi, toyos panpipes, kachampas, and karnavalito rhythm.The tour also included a return to Carnegie Hall for a celebrated performance at the legendary Isaac Stern Auditorium. Lauded by Vivien Schweitzer of the New York Times, the Sphinx Virtuosi were “propulsive, richly hued” and the ensemble presented “polish and tonal allure” to a sold out crowd. While in New York City, the ensemble also enjoyed a weeklong residency at Columbia University. Thanks to the support of Dr. Dennis Mitchell and Dr. Anne Taylor, Sphinx musicians participated in collegiate courses and performances throughout campus.Through the generosity of the John & Marcia Goldman Foundation, this year’s tour also saw the Sphinx Virtuosi’s inaugural visit to the California Bay Area. The ensemble presented two performances in San Francisco and San Jose, in addition to significant community engagement experiences with local schools in San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland. Having reached a total outreach-audience well in excess of one thousand people, the residency was impactful and inspiring.2015 Sphinx Competition junior division first place Laureate Hannah White also joined the national tour as the featured soloist. Performing Eugène Ysaÿe’s “Ballade,” the New York Times proclaimed her performance a “highlight of the evening” and “terrific,” noting that “her technical dexterity and expressive flair earned an enthusiastic ovation.”The Sphinx Virtuosi completed their national tour at the Harris Theater in Chicago in early December. With support from the Irving Harris Foundation, the musicians enjoyed a second annual holiday performance, sharing the program with the Chicago Children’s Choir. Performing holiday favorites and a world premiere by Daniel Bernard Roumain, the ensemble warmed hearts and minds in the windy city.The national Sphinx Virtuosi tour is made possible with the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the John & Marcia Goldman Foundation, Art Works, Aetna, and the Amphion Foundation. The Sphinx Virtuosi and Catalyst Quartet are exclusively represented in North America by California Artists Management (www.CalArtists.com)

Sphinx Virtuosi Tour Inspires from Coast to Coast!

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Photo: Nan Melville

SPHINX NEWSSphinx will receive a $50,000 Grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to increase diversity and inclusion in Detroit classical music audiences.

Sphinx Competition alum Kevin Marcus released an album called Stereotypes on Universal Classics on September 18th, which debuted #1 on Billboard Classical Crossover Album, #2 Classical Album, #4 R&B Album.

Trio Nova Mundi, including Sphinx alumna Maureen Conlon Gutierrez, released their new CD Canticum on November 14, 2015.

Sphinx Laureate Elena Urioste is featured in a new film called But Not For Me. This film won the 2015 Brooklyn Film Festival Audience Award.

Sphinx Laureate Mira Williams is attending New England Conservatory of Music.

Alums Mira Williams and Julimar Gonzalez both participated in Chautauqua Music Festival in 2014 and 2015.

Sphinx Competition alums Eduardo Rios, Roberto Arundale, Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, Jeremías Sergiani Velázquez all particpated in the Aspen Music Festival this summer.

Alumna Lianna Dugan participated in Youth Orchestra of the America’s Pan American Tour as principal viola. Close to 1000 auditions were received for 80 spots in the orchestra.

Sphinx Laureate Melissa White and the Harlem Quartet were instrumental in assisting the Mobile Symphony Orchestra in obtaining a grant that will fund a residency by the quartet; the residency will include performances and school engagement activities.

Sphinx Laureate Christine Lamprea will perform the world premiere of “three windows” by Jeffrey Mumford on January 20 at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

Send us your news and performance updates: QuarterNote@SphinxMusic.org

Sphinx is thrilled to share that our President and Artistic Director, Afa Dworkin, has been selected and featured in Musical Ameria’s December 2015 Special Report, “The 30 Professionals of the Year: The Influencers.” This year’s selected individuals are people who are making a difference in the performing arts, by virtue of their position, their creativity, and their dedication. These 30 professionals were selected from hundreds of nominations from the Musical America network.

In Memoriamby Afa S. Dworkin

On October 15, 2015, our world lost one of the most ardent advocates and contributors to the history of Black music and Black musicians. Dr. Dominique Rene de Lerma (“Dom”) was a great soul, a true champion and a dear friend. His enormous contributions will be remembered, treasured and rediscovered by many of the current and next generation, yet his story has not been told enough.

Dr. de Lerma served as one of the inaugural judges for the 1998 Sphinx Competition. He was also a founding member of Sphinx’s Advisory Board, guiding so much of our research, repertoire, helping to promote our emerging artists and sharing so generously his time, his knowledge, his beautiful library and his passion. Dom had a mind of a giant and a heart of gold: my personal memories include receiving guidance on program notes to countless of Sphinx’s programs showcasing Black composers, and getting advice on our curricula for our educational programs. Yet with all of this immense knowledge came utmost humility, as he was always eager to ask for advice and to collaborate. Our last conversation was a few months ago, as he was still pursuing the idea of cataloguing and updating the listing of current Black musicians performing with full-time orchestras. A musicologist, an oboist, and a consummate educator, he was honored by countless awards including Associated Colleges of the Midwest; Chapelbrook Foundation; Center for Black Music Research; Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian; Foundation Pro Helvetia; Government of France; Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation; National Association for Equal Opportunity in High Education; National Endowment for the Humanities, and beyond. He has taught courses at Columbia College, Florida State University, Peabody Conservatory, University of Miami and others.

As we pay our respects to this giant, an example of integrity, passionate advocacy and scholarly role model, I think of a single wish for all of us and those of the next generation…may we all be so driven to study and unafraid to learn. May our hunger to constantly better ourselves be inspired by Dom’s constant quest for knowledge and commitment to our community.

Sphinx President & ArtisticDirector Named One of

Musical America’sInfluencers of the Year

1. Sphinx Virtuosi; 2. Composer/pianist Gabriela Lena Frank with Linda and Stuart Nelson and guests; 3. Violinist Hannah White, Afa Dworkin, Aaron Dworkin, Sphinx Board Chair Dr. William H. Carson, Dr. David Barthwell, Dr. Andrea Barthwell, Loretta Britton, and Marcelo Remizov; 4. Cellist Karlos Rodriguez with Amy Burkholder and guests. Photos: Brian Hatton.

Photo: Kevin Kennedy

My Sphinx Story, by Gabrielle HooperI first became involved with the Sphinx Organization at the recommendation of my first private cello teacher Tanya Bennett, who suggested that I get involved with the Sphinx Preparatory Music Institute, a Saturday program for Detroit-area middle and high school students. Sphinx Prep allowed me to be in classes that were small enough to feel like master classes; I got great exposure to different types of music and was able to build my confidence as a performer. When the program ended, I realized how much I had thrived in that atmosphere. In my musical experiences outside of Sphinx, I never got to learn from or make music with other Black and Latino musicians.

Through Sphinx Prep, I was introduced to the Sphinx Performance Academy, Sphinx’s full-scholarship intensive summer music program. My first year at SPA was in the summer of 2012 at Oberlin College, and I fell in love with the program! I have attended every summer since then. Every experience I’ve had there has changed me as a cellist. SPA was the first place that I got to play chamber music, participate in a string quartet, play in a cello duet, and attend a solo master class. I learned to push my boundaries and to take advantage of the multitude of opportunities available to me through Sphinx and otherwise, which is why I decided to apply for a Sphinx MPower grant.

I used the grant to attend the High School Cello Institute Week at Interlochen Center for the Arts. It was the best thing I could have possibly done; I was really able to focus on learning and improving as a cellist. I had the opportunity to explore different techniques and make very beneficial connections. Most importantly, I was able to bring diversity to what otherwise would have been a week very limited in color.

I really embrace the social aspect of music, but I can’t help but feel lonely in the musical world. I look around in my ensembles and my classes and I notice that there may be only one other face that looks like mine in a sea of 60 people. What’s worse is that I often feel that, at first, those 60 other people question why I’m there or why I have the ability to lead my section. Through these experiences, I came to fully understand the true blessing of Sphinx and what it has provided for me. It was the sense that Black and Latino musicians should also be expected to excel in classical music, that the opportunity to excel should be provided to everyone, and that the exposure should not be such a foreign concept.

The accomplishments that I see other Sphinx artists achieve mean so much to me. They make a statement of inclusion in today’s classical music world that cannot be ignored. The statement is so clear that it allows me to imagine a future for myself in music. I am a Junior in high school this year and the search that seemed so far away is now here: college. I never thought that I would get to this point or that I would feel so prepared for it, and the fact that I am has to do a lot with what Sphinx has offered me. I have grown because of Sphinx and will continue to grow propelled by the tremendous support of the Sphinx community. Where I will go is undetermined, but I know I will go far. Sphinx has ensured it.

I am

“Although I have admired the work of Sphinx for many years, my own personal involvement with the organization began last year when I judged the Sphinx Competition. Not only was it inspiring to listen to so many talented young string players, I was very much taken by the level of dedication and commitment of everyone in the organization.

Sphinx is making a direct and significant impact on the world of music. It is at the vanguard of the conversation about diversity in our concert halls and is bringing us all together to work towards making this world a better place. It has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of the Sphinx family and I look forward to working together for many years to come.”

- Jeffrey ZeiglerCello, 2015 Sphinx Competition Juror

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

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Real Lives Transformed:Sphinx’s extensive programming reaches artists

of all ages and backgrounds – see how their lives have been changed!

A year-round youth development program providing free violins and lessons to elementary school students in underserved communities.

“It’s really fun,” says ten-year-old Andrea Gutierrez, a precocious second-year Overture student. She is one of the many kids who began shyly, but blossomed with guidance from professionals like her teacher, Leslie DeShazor. “Andrea loves to perform,” says DeShazor. “She started slowly but really picked up, and started learning things a year ahead of her level.”

A program recognizing outstanding musicians of color who, early in their careers, demonstrate leadership and extraordinary achievements. The honorees are celebrated at a black tie dinner in our nation’s capital and each receives a $50,000 artist grant.

“I am so thankful to Sphinx because winning this award has allowed me to make my dreams come true. It’s given me wonderful opportunities to speak about the importance of the arts, and it’s also given me a chance to start my own organization.” - Carla Dirlikov Canales

OVERTURE

SPHINX MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE

A comprehensive set of scholarship programs designed to empower the careers of Sphinx’s alumni at various stages of development

Being raised in a household where resources had to be split between eight children was not easy for Eric Thompson and his siblings, but somehow all managed to play a musical instrument. A trip to the New York Philharmonic at age 9 sparked Eric’s interest in the double bass.

Things were tight financially, but fortune smiled; Eric was given not only free private lessons from the Atlanta Symphony’s principal bassist, but also a full scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music. And winning third place in the Sphinx Competition allowed for further financial help and encouragement.

“Sphinx has had a huge impact on my life,” Eric Thompson says. “Now the

Sphinx MPower Grant will allow me to acquire a fine bass, and put me closer to reaching my ultimate goal, a permanent orchestra position. Sphinx has created a network of support

for minority classic musicians that didn’t exist before, and it gives

everyone a deeper connection to the music that we all love.”

The professional all Black and Latino orchestra which performs with and mentors the participants of the Sphinx Competition

“I don’t think a day has gone by that the Sphinx family hasn’t played some kind of role in my life…This fine

organization is truly a game-changer.” - Danielle Belen

MUSIC ASSISTANCE FUND

SPHINX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

To give today supporting any of these transformative programs, please see enclosed giving envelope, visit SphinxMusic.org/donate,

or contact Therese Goussy at Therese@SphinxMusic.org or 734-255-7623.

400 Renaissance CenterSuite 2550Detroit, MI 48243

Somethingto Ponder:

“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.”-- Sun Tzu

Aaron P. Dworkin Founder

The Brasil Guitar Duo, comprised of João Luiz and Douglas Lora who met in São Paulo as teenage guitar students, took the time to connect with the Quarter Note about their upcoming performance as

Sphinx’s featured artist at the Sphinx Competition Finals Concert, their extensive touring history and exciting upcoming projects.

Quarter Note: What’s it like to be a touring guitar duo; what countries have you visited?

Brasil Guitar Duo: The tours for the Brasil Guitar Duo are an important part of our mission as musicians and they make it possible for us to reach out to audiences all over the world, sharing the music we believe in. In the past 18 years as a duo, we’ve toured extensively in the U.S. as well as Colombia, Taiwan, Poland, Austria, Germany, Belize, Holland, Belgium, England, Cuba, Ecuador, China, South Korea, Panama and Bermuda.

QN: What will you be performing at the Sphinx Finals

concert on Sunday, February 7 and what’s special about this particular performance for you?

BGD: We are very happy and honored to participate in this concert with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra in Detroit. We admire Sphinx’s mission to reach and engage musicians of color into the world of classical music.

The piece we’re going to play is the third movement of the ‘’Concerto Caboclo’’ by Brazilian composer Paulo Bellinati. This concerto is very important to us because it was dedicated to the Brasil Guitar Duo by the composer.

QN: We hear you will be releasing an album soon, can you tell us about it and what audiences should look forward to hearing?

Q & A with the Brasil Guitar DuoBGD: We recorded the complete works of the esteemed Cuban composer Leo Brouwer (b.1939) and we will release the CD in 2016. The highlight of this recording is “Sonata de Los Viajeros” (Travelers Sonata), Brouwer’s most recent work for two guitars.

QN: Do you have any other upcoming projects that audiences should look forward to?

BGD: In February 2016, we are going to make our first recording with an orchestra with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra under maestro David Amado. On this recording, we’re proud to present three world premieres - Bellinati’s concerto written for us, Leo Brouwer’s ‘’El libro de los signos’’ and a composer who is extremely important to the duo, Egberto Gismonti, who arranged his “7 Anéis” for us.