Sphinx Organization

The Sphinx Organization is a national non-profit, headquartered in Detroit, MI and founded by Dr. Aaron P. Dworkin. A violinist since childhood, Aaron would attend orchestra concerts and notice that very few performers or audience members were people of color. The desire to change this was the founding principle of Sphinx. While Aaron was still a student at the University of Michigan, the Sphinx Organization began with the inaugural Sphinx Competition in 1998. The Sphinx Competition for Black and Latino strings players provides an opportunity for young musicians of color to compete under the guidance and mentorship of internationally renowned musicians. Today, Sphinx continues to create positive change in the field and in communities across the country. In addition to the Sphinx Competition, Sphinx operates a variety of programs including Sphinx Overture, which offers free violins and lessons to elementary school students in underserved communities, and Sphinx Performance Academy, a full-scholarship inten