Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is pleased to present Sphinx Virtuosi, one of the nation’s most dynamic professional chamber orchestras, in a virtual concert on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at 3 p.m. The self-conducted ensemble, comprised of 18 top Black and Latinx classical soloists, will perform This is America, featuring music that highlights people of color through the lens of the ensemble’s musicians, interwoven with a selection of American classics.

With a commitment to social impact through expression, Sphinx Virtuosi seeks to lift many voices and bring people together despite the isolation of the pandemic. This is America includes “Ev’ry Voice,” a recent work by Xavier Foley that pays tribute to the Black National Anthem; “Source Code,” a piece by Jessie Montgomery that redefines the classical music canon; and Quartet in F major, Op. 96 “American” – IV. Finale by Antonín Dvořák. The program concludes with “Seven” by Andrea Casarrubios, Leonard Bernstein’s “America” from West Side Story, and “Delights and Dances” by Michael Abels, a versatile composer whose contemporary work spans cinema and symphonies. 

Violinist and social entrepreneur Aaron P. Dworkin founded the Sphinx Organization 25 years ago, to address the underrepresentation of people of color in classical music. Now led by Dworkin's wife, violinist Afa S. Dworkin, the social justice organization continues to transform lives through educational programs for more than 100,000 students and artists annually, and performance broadcasts that reach millions of music-lovers each year. “This is more than just a classical ensemble... This is a movement,” said Aaron Dworkin. 

In addition to their March 14 performance, Sphinx Virtuosi members will participate in a virtual residency as part of the Quick’s Arts for All partnership with Bridgeport Public Schools. The acclaimed ensemble will lead workshops and discussions centered around diversity in classical music and career paths in the art form. Both their virtual performance and residency are funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies.

Sphinx Virtuosi’s performance of This is America is a premiere event and will take place in a virtual format on Sunday, March 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets start at $10 and are available at quickcenter.com. This and several other upcoming premiere Quick events are free for Fairfield University students and employees, President's Circle and Bellarmine Society members, and Quick Center Members. To become a Quick Center Member today, visit quickcenter.com or call the box office at 203-254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396.