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Sphinx Virtuosi

“Drawing inspiration from the most promising voices of today, we seek to lift the many voices within our communities. Despite the physical isolation imposed by the pandemic, we are unified through our shared commitment to social impact through our expression. We are inspired by the music of Michael Abels, one of the most versatile composers of today, spanning cinema and symphonies alike. The sounds of Jessie Montgomery’s “Source Code” redefine our canon of tomorrow. Starting with the new work by Xavier Foley, “Ev’ry Voice” and on our journey toward other American classics, we seek to find new ways to lift the voices of our black and brown communities through the lens of our black and brown musicians.  Though we are separated by distances and time, we collaborate to share the voices of our flagship ensembles to unify our greater communities during these challenging yet transformative times.” – The Sphinx Virtuosi

The Sphinx Virtuosi are the nation’s most dynamic, exhilarating professional chamber orchestra, dedicated to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in classical music. Comprised of eighteen of the nation’s top Black and Latinx classical soloists, the Virtuosi are primarily alumni of the internationally renowned Sphinx Competition, and its members work together as cultural ambassadors reaching new audiences. This unique ensemble earned rapturous reviews from The New York Times during its highly acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall in December 2004: Allan Kozinn described their performance as “first-rate in every way” and raved that “the ensemble produced a more beautiful, precise and carefully shaped sound than some fully professional orchestras that come through Carnegie Hall in the course of the year.” 

The Sphinx Virtuosi have returned to Carnegie Hall annually since 2006, performing to sold-out audiences and earning additional outstanding reviews from The New York Times each year. Acting as a bridge between minority communities and the classical music establishment, the Sphinx Virtuosi continue to garner critical acclaim during their annual national tours to many of the leading venues around the country. Inspired by the Sphinx Organization’s overarching mission, the Sphinx Virtuosi work to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through performances of kaleidoscopically varied repertoire. Masterpieces by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, and Mozart are performed alongside the more seldom-presented works by composers of color, including Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, George Walker, Michael Abels, and Astor Piazzolla.

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ATOS Trio

Three voices, one sound: The kind of pitch-perfect unanimity of phrasing, tone, feeling and interpretation that distinguishes the finest chamber ensembles.
(Detroit Free Press)

Pianist Thomas Hoppe, violinist Annette von Hehn and cellist Stefan Heinemeyer have been conquering the world’s major concert series together since 2003. Around the globe, the ATOS Trio is hailed by audiences and met with critical acclaim.

From winning the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award, the gold-standard prize for trios in the US, to a prestigious recognition as “New Generation Artists” by the BBC. From prizes in London, Graz and Melbourne to concerts in all the major festivals and venues from Oceana to Carnegie Hall.

The ATOS Trio pushes expression and dynamics to the limits, and with its incredibly distinctive warm expressive unified trio sound, far beyond the comfortable, familiar, and expected.

“They were Austrians in Haydn, Czechs in Dvorak, and Russians in Shostakovich.”
(O Estado de Sao Paulo, Brazil)

At great venues such as London’s Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, the Sala Sao Paulo, Carnegie Hall or the Berlin Philharmonic; at festivals such as City of London, Cheltenham, Budapest Spring Festival and Gilmore Michigan; in performances at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Rheingau Music Festival, the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, or the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele.

On enthusiastically received CD recordings of classical and romantic repertoire (Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn); in complete premiere recordings of Heinrich von Herzogenberg and Josef Suk; and most recently in a celebration of French, Russian. and Czech music (The French album, The Russian Album, The Czech Album).

Their total dedication to the music, the joy, the almost magically differentiated interpretation sets new standards.

“… One of the elite Piano Trios playing before the public today.”
(The Washington Post, USA)

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Founder’s Concert

Through this annual concert, we pay tribute to our Founder, Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams, the first African American impresario of a major classical music concert series in the United States. We remember and honor Dr. Williams’ many contributions to our community and to our world.

This concert is free of charge. Please check back after April 1, 2021 for
further information.

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