Sphinx Virtuosi Quintet - Rubén Rengel

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Five musicians drawn from the renowned Sphinx Virtuosi perform a tribute to the American sound of classical music, with selections ranging from a movement from Dvořák’s “American Quartet” to Andrea Casarrubios’s SEVEN, a work composed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded in 1997 with the goal of addressing the underrepresentation of people of color in classical music, the Sphinx Organization annually presents programs benefiting more than 100,000 students and artists and performs for audiences of more than two million. The program is introduced by pianist and past Washington Performing Arts headliner Lara Downes, host of the NPR Music show Amplify with Lara Downes and the recipient of the 2016 Sphinx Medal of Excellence.

A note on the program from the Sphinx Organization:
“As a social justice organization, we seek to empower the essential voices of artists and leaders who shape the vibrant landscape of our field. America is home to artists of diverse backgrounds, born in this country, inspired by its ideals, and those whose journeys have brought them here in search of knowledge, refuge, or a home. Each of them experience life from their divergent perspectives and unique voices. In this program, we pay tribute to quintessentially American classical music in hopes to augment and evolve our collective perspectives. This music paints pictures of America as it was throughout history, as well as its essence today. Through our music, we aspire to be the messengers of inspiration, remembrance, light and hope. Together with you, our audiences, we hope to create an unforgettable journey. Together with our audiences, we lift every voice.”

Program:
XAVIER FOLEY – Ev’ry Voice
PERKINSON – Sinfonietta No. 1
ANDREA CASARRUBIOS – SEVEN
BARBER – Adagio for Strings
DVOŘÁK – Finale from String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, “American” (String Orchestra Version)

Rubén Rengel, violin I
Jannina Norpoth, violin II
Dana Kelley, viola
Thomas Mesa, cello
Christopher Johnson, double bass

Featuring a Headline Artist performance plus:

Soundcheck: (Video) Washington Performing Arts President & CEO, Jenny Bilfield, sat down with Sphinx Organization President & Artistic Director Afa S. Dworkin, Washington Concert Opera Executive Director Tehvon Fowler-Chapman, and APAP Director of Programs and Resources Krista Bradley to discuss strategies and resources for arts organizations to effect systemic change in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.

Linger Longer: A panel of leading arts professionals share the strategies and resources that Black and Latinx employees have used to effect impactful, systemic change within their organizations in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Moderated by NPR arts reporter and Home Delivery Plus Series Host Anastasia Tsioulcas and featuring Andre Dowell, Chief of Artist Engagement for the Sphinx Organization; Weston Sprott, Dean of the Preparatory Division at the Juilliard School; Noah Stern Weber, Director of Development at Boston Lyric Opera (and grandson of violinist and educator Isaac Stern); and violinist Melissa White, a first-prize laureate in the Sphinx Competition.

Additional components TBA

Single-Event Price: $20
Student Price: $4 (with free Gateway Student Ticket Program registration)

Special Thanks: View event and series sponsors.

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