Sphinx Organization

The Sphinx Organization, founded in 1997 by violinist Aaron P. Dworkin, aims to address the underrepresentation of Black and Latinx musicians in classical music. The inaugural Sphinx Competition was held in 1998, providing performance opportunities for young Black and Latinx string players. Over the years, the organization expanded its initiatives, including the formation of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra in 2000, the launch of the Sphinx Preparatory Institute and Sphinx Performance Academy in 2004, and the founding of the Harlem Quartet in 2006. Sphinx has also commissioned numerous works by composers of color and established various educational and artist development programs. In 2012, SphinxCon, now SphinxConnect, was introduced as an annual conference focused on diversity in the performing arts. The organization has continued to grow, launching the National Alliance for Audition Support in 2018 and the Sphinx LEAD leadership program in 2019. Sphinx celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022, marking a significant milestone in its mission to transform lives through diversity in the arts.