Guidelines and Application

13th Annual Sphinx Competition

for young Black & Latino string players
Presented by

February 3 - 7, 2010 Detroit & Ann Arbor, MI Over $100,000 in prizes and scholarships

Eligibility
1. Instrumental categories are Violin, Viola, Cello and DoubleBass. 2. Participants in the Junior Division must not have reached their 18th birthday by February 5, 2010. Participants in the Senior Division must be at least 18 years old but not have reached their 27th birthday by February 7, 2010. 3. Participation is limited to current U.S. residents who are Black or Latino.1 4. Participants must not have been a 1st Place Winner in their division in any previous Sphinx Competition.

Audition CD Requirements
1. Each applicant must submit with their application a preliminary audition CD which includes all of the required preliminary repertoire for their instrument category. 2. Each selection should be recorded and labeled as a separate track. 3. CD cases must be clearly marked with the applicants name, age, address, phone number, instrument and works recorded on the CD. The actual CD must not be labeled with any information identifying the applicant. 4. Tapes must be in CD format ONLY. No other formats will be considered. Professional quality recording equipment is suggested but not required. The assistance of audioexperienced persons is encouraged but also not required. 5. CDs WILL NOT BE RETURNED! Applicants are strongly encouraged to send CD via trackable mail and to make copies in case of loss in transit.

Application Process
1. A completed printed application form, along with required enclosures, application fee2 and the preliminary audition CD must be sent to: Screening Committee The Sphinx Competition 400 Renaissance Center, Suite 2550 Detroit MI 48243 Application must arrive in the Sphinx Office no later than November 11, 2009 2. A copy of the applicants birth certificate (or other official document demonstrating the age of the applicant) must accompany the application form. 3. A copy of the applicant's current bio, repertoire list and a photo must accompany the application. 4. An application fee of $35 (payable to the Sphinx Competition) must be enclosed along with the application.2

Tony Rymer, 2009 Sr. Division First Place Laureate Black and Latino eligibility is defined in the Eligibility Addendum available from the competition upon request. 2 Application fee may be waived if demonstrable need is shown.
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13th Annual Sphinx Competition

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
Preliminary Repertoire Junior Audition Tape Violin
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Semi-Finals Repertoire Junior Division Violin

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2 contrasting mvts of Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin Mozart, Concerto in D Major No. 4, mvt I Piece of choice 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (Viola version) Stamitz, Concerto in D Major, Op. 1, mvt I Piece of Choice 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites Boccherini, Concerto in B Flat Major, mvt I Piece of Choice 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for Bass) Dittersdorf, Concerto in E Major, mvt. III, Schott Edition Piece of Choice

Viola
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2 Contrasting mvts of Bach Solo Sonatas & Partitas Mozart, Concerto No. 4 in D Major, mvt I l Still, "Here's One" *for parts, contact William Grant Still Music at 928-526-9355*

Viola
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Cello
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2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for viola) Stamitz, Concerto in D Major, Op. 1, mvt I l L. Brown, 2 contrasting Spirituals for viola *for parts, contact Sphinx at 313-877-9100, ext 712*

Cello
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Bass
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2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites Boccherini, Concerto in B Flat Major, mvt I l L. Brown, 2 contrasting Spirituals for cello *for parts, contact Sphinx at 313-877-9100, ext 712*

Bass
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2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for Bass) Dittersdorf, Concerto in E Major, mvt. II & III, Schott Edition

Preliminary Repertoire Senior Audition Tape Violin

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Semi-Finals Repertoire Senior Division Violin

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2 contrasting mvts of Bach Solo Sonatas (3 sonatas ONLY). *Chaconne from Partita No. 2 may be performed in place of the 2 contrasting movements from the Sonatas* l Still, Suite for Violin and Orchestra, mvt II (Mother and Child) *for parts, contact William Grant Still Music at 928-526-9355* l Saint-Saens, Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Finale l Piece of Choice

2 contrasting mvts of Bach Solo Sonatas (3 sonatas ONLY). *Chaconne from Partita No. 2 may be performed in place of the 2 contrasting movements from the Sonatas* l Still, Suite for Violin and Orchestra, mvt II (Mother and Child) *for parts, contact William Grant Still Music at 928-526-9355* l Saint-Saens, Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Finale

Viola
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Viola
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2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for Viola) Stamitz, Concerto in D Major, mvt II Bartok, Concerto for Viola, Serly Edition, mvt I Piece of Choice 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites Haydn, Concerto in D Major, mvt II Elgar, Concerto in E Minor, Finale Piece of Choice 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for Bass) Bottesini, Concerto No. 2 , mvts II & III Piece of Choice

2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for viola) Stamitz, Concerto in D Major, mvt II Bartok, Concerto for Viola, Serly Edition, mvt I 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites Haydn, Cello Concerto in D Major, mvt II Elgar, Concerto in E Minor, Finale 2 contrasting mvts of Bach Cello Suites (for Bass) Bottesini, Concerto No. 2 in A Minor, mvts II & III

Cello
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Cello
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Bass
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Bass
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Trouble locating repertoire?

CHECK OUR WEBSITE www.sphinxmusic.org/applicants/repertoire.html or call us for information about the publishers and/or recordings (313) 877-9100 ext. 712

Finals Repertoire - Junior Division Violin

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Competition Outline
Preliminaries
Applicants must submit their completed application, enclosures, fee and audition CD to be received in the Sphinx office by November 11, 2009. Late or incomplete applications are automatically disqualified. Notice of results, as well as additional information regarding the Semi-Finals and Finals phases, will be mailed out to applicants no later than December 15, 2009.

Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, mvt I Stamitz, Concerto in D Major, Op. 1, mvt I Boccherini, Concerto in B Flat Major, mvt I Dittersdorf, Concerto in E Major, mvt. III, Schott Edition

Viola
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Cello
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Bass
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Semi-Finals & Finals

Finals Repertoire - Senior Division Violin

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Saint-Saens, Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Finale Bartok, Concerto for Viola, Serly Edition, mvt I Elgar, Concerto in E Minor, Finale Bottesini, Concerto No. 2 in A Minor, mvt III

Eighteen Semi-Finalists will travel to Detroit & Ann Arbor, Michigan on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 to compete in the Semi-Finals and Finals phases of the competition. Accommodations may be provided for all Semi-Finalists by the competition. Discount rates are available for parents, teachers or other guests of the competition. All Semi-Finalists will be required to attend all competition events which will conclude on Sunday, February 7, 2010. Accompanists as well as some meals will be provided for the Semi-Finalists during the competition. All Semi-Finalists should be prepared to perform all repertoire included on the Semi-Finals and Finals Repertoire lists for their age division from memory.

Viola
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2010 Jury Panel

Cello
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Bass
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The Jury Panel for the 2010 competition is composed of Sanford Allen (violin), Director of the Leaf Peeper Concert Series; Atar Arad (viola), professor at Indiana University; Joseph Conyers (bass), member of Atlanta Symphony; Paul Katz (cello), professor at the New England Conservatory of Music; Jose Serebrier, GRAMMYwinning conductor & composer; Joel Smirnoff (violin/conductor), President of the Cleveland Institute of Music/first violinist of the Juilliard Quartet.

APPLICATION FORM

13Th ANNuAL SPhINX COMPETITION

** ENTRIES MuST bE RECEIvEd by NOvEMbER 11, 2009 **

Applying to: Junior Senior Division Phone (______)_______________________________ 2nd Phone (______)_______________________________________

Full Name _________________________________________________________________________________ Race/Ethnicity______________________________________________ Street Address __________________________________________________________________________________E-mail________________________________________________ City ___________________________________________ State _______Zip _________________Age______Birthdate__________________Soc. Sec. #_________________________ Instrument ____________________Teacher__________________________________________________ School ________________________________________________________ Parent's Name(s)_____________________________________________________________________________________Parent's Phone (______)_____________________________ Parent's Address_____________________________________________________________________City_________________________________State______ Zip________________ Full List of Applicant's Repertoire__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Major Concerts, Festivals, Competitions, Honors, Etc. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

**Please include any additional repertoire or honors on separate paper along with application**

Prizes & Scholarships (over $100,000 total)*

Senior Division Prizes
1st Place - $10,000 cash prize, solo appearances with major orchestras, performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, professional CD through Naxos label 2nd Place - $5,000 cash prize, performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra 3rd Place - $3,500 cash prize, performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra

The Sphinx Competition is made possible through the support of our Sponsors & Collaborators:
Presenter

Junior Division Prizes

1st Place - $5,000 cash prize, solo appearances with major orchestras, performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, national radio debut on From the Top 2nd Place - $3,500 cash prize, performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, national radio debut on From the Top 3rd Place - $2,000 cash prize, performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, national radio debut on From the Top

Honors Concert Sponsor

Finals Concert Host

Detroit Headquarters Sponsor

Finals Concert Broadcast Sponsor

Musical Encounters Sponsor

Scholarships

All 18 Semi-Finalists (both divisions) will receive a scholarship from the Sphinx Music Assistance Fund, a partnership program of the League of American Orchestras and the Sphinx Organization, to apply towards their musical development and a full scholarship to attend one of our Summer Music or Artistic Sponsor Institutions, which include Aspen, Banff Summer Festival, BU Tanglewood, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Bay View Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, Chautauqua, Credo Chamber Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, Greenwood Music Camp, Heifetz Music Institute, Interlochen, Kent/Blossom, Manchester Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, National Symphony Summer Institute, NOI, Mark OConner String Camp, Perlman Music Program, Rocky Mountain, Walnut Hill School and the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Incoming first year students may be eligible for scholarships in partner institutions, including the Cleveland Institure of Music, Columbus State University, Indiana University, Ithaca College, Juilliard School, Longy School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Peabody Institute, Roosevelt University , Texas Christian University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Southern California, and Walnut Hill School.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Claire Giannini Fund Leo Guthman Fund The Kresge Foundation Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

Scherman Foundation Margaret A. Cargill Foundation

The Loraine & Melinese Reuter Foundation

Sphinx Instrument Fund

The Sphinx Instrument Fund provides instruments to SemiFinalists of the Sphinx Competition. Instruments are available for participants to use for the entire year after their participation in the competition. Placements are based on need. Instruments are provided by David Kerr Violins, Giovanni Gammuto Violins, William Harris Lee, Geoffrey Ovington, Shar Fine Instruments, Psarianos Violins, Garza Violins, Cox Violins, Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins, Alfred Coren and Susan Rose.
*All prizes and performance opportunities are contingent upon artistic merit approval and subject to change.

Sphinx Music Assistance Fund

in partnership with

The Brown Foundation, Inc., Houston Mr. David Rockefeller

Supported by

Alabama Symphony American String Teachers Assoc. Arts League of Michigan Assoc. of Performing Arts Presenters Atlanta Symphony Baltimore Symphony Boston Symphony/Pops Central Michigan Univ./White Pine Music Chamber Music America Chicago Sinfonietta Chicago Symphony Cincinnati Symphony Cleveland Orchestra Colorado Symphony Concert Artists Guild Dance Theatre of Harlem Dayton Philharmonic Detroit Public Library Detroit Public Television Detroit Symphony Flagstaff Symphony Florida Orchestra From the Top Grand Rapids Symphony Hartford Symphony

League of American Orchestras Marygrove College Michigan Opera Theatre Memphis Symphony Minnesota Orchestra Nashville Symphony Natl. Assoc. of Schools of Music Natl. Fdn. for Advancement in the Arts Natl. Guild of Comm. Schools of the Arts Naxos Label New Jersey Symphony New Mexico Symphony New World Symphony New York Philharmonic Philadelphia Orchestra Pittsburgh Symphony Rochester Philharmonic Seattle Symphony Stamford Symphony UNCF - College Fund University Musical Society Walnut Hill School Wayne State University Young Concert Artists Ypsilanti Symphony

Gradoux-Matt Rare Violins

Giovanni Gammuto Violins

William Harris Lee & Company