Since the Sphinx Organization launched its educational, touring and competition programs 22 years ago, the number of black and Latinx musicians who hold seats in major orchestras around the country has begun to rise. During the same period, commissions, tours and solo performances by musicians of color have also grown, said Sphinx President and Artistic Director Afa Dworkin. But diversity in the leadership ranks of classical music has not kept pace. Beyond societal and systemic challenges, there hasn’t been an organized effort to create a pipeline of diverse leaders in classical music, Dworkin said. To address that, the Detroit-based nonprofit is launching a leadership development program with educational and mentorship components aimed at cultivating black and Latinx candidates for leadership positions in orchestras, conservatories and music schools across the country.
