Sphinx Chamber Orchestra Tour

We are now in Memphis after spending the day Sunday on the bus traveling from Chicago. It was about 10 hours drive but we watched Ironman and Meet the Parents to help the time pass by on our journey. And now we are in Memphis after a very successful showing at the Harris Theater in Chicago. We have the day off to recharge our batteries and then we will share our music with the community of Memphis Tuesday. Great tour so far.

Peace,

Chelsea Tipton, 2

What a night! All I can say is bravissimo. To every member of SCO, each soloist, Karla, Jannina, Kaila, Karlos, Keith for their leadership, to the one-of-a-kind HQ, Elena and Clayton. A special shout out goes to Chelsea for leading the orchestra through the first set of incredibly jam-packed rehearsals and then a first-rate performance. The musicians were invited back 3 times at the end, and I could barely hold my tears. Or not hold them Over the past few days,I've learned so much from our group! One most important lesson for me was that if one has integrity and pride, no mountain is too high. These guys showed me that. They sounded amazing despite any obstacles, like time, no sleep (varied reasons for this one!), missing Marcus, odd rhythmic structure/meter, too many accidentals in the music...I could go on. Y'all know I got nothing against Villa-Lobos You guys are the best there is. I have all sorts of plans for next year's tour (YAY!). Much love to each of you, for going the extra mile without even being asked. I will see you soon. For now, take it easy on Andre and Nick: they are the ones making it happen! XOXO,
afa

More great press about the tour!

From the Chicago Tribune…

Sphinx looks to change makeup of U.S. orchestras
By John von Rhein | Chicago Tribune critic
October 3, 2008
For decades, professionals in classical music have furrowed their brows over the lack of minority representation in the player rosters of U.S. symphony orchestras. Although minorities have made tremendous strides in many other fields, African-Americans and Latinos make up only 1.7 to 1.8 percent of professional American orchestras, according to the most recent survey by the League of American Orchestras.

Rather than wringing its hands over the situation, the Sphinx Organization is addressing the problem directly.

Keep reading: http://tinyurl.com/3ozuqk

And from the Urbana News-Gazette…

Harlem Quartet plays for Prairie Elementary students

Urbana students got down to Mozart on Wednesday morning.

They shook their shoulders to Duke Ellington, nodded their heads in time to a Cuban conga.

Packed in to the Prairie Elementary School gym, the students got a preview of the Harlem quartet, a nationally known string quartet playing with the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts tonight at 7:30.

Keep reading: http://tinyurl.com/4gezqb

Hey All,

It is great fun to work with these young people in the chamber orchestra. I have been so looking forward to this tour with the orchestra. We have had 3 rehearsals and we are about to have our first concert tomorrow October 2. There is still work to be done but we are making good progress. I hope that you can come see and hear us make music. This is an orchestra that you don't want to miss.

Peace,

Chelsea Tipton, II
Conductor

This story about the tour appeared in Sunday's Chicago Sun-Times.

Youthful orchestra showcases several local musicians and breaks some barriers

Chicago audiences know a little something about top-flight orchestral performances by talented teens and college-age musicians.

Free concerts by the Civic Orchestra, founded as a training ground for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra nearly 90 years ago, sometimes rival those of its big musical brother. The area has some fine student orchestras, and Gustavo Dudamel, classical music's hottest young conductor and a favorite of listeners here, burst onto the international music scene leading stunning concerts with the high-energy players of Venezuela's Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra.

Local music lovers can catch a glimpse of another highly praised youth orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Founded 12 years ago in Detroit as a competition to encourage gifted young African-American and Latino string players interested in classical music, the Sphinx Organization has put together a fall tour for its Sphinx Chamber Orchestra. In addition to the Harris Theater concert, the orchestra's inaugural eight-city tour includes a performance at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 21.

Read the rest of the article here: http://tinyurl.com/3mku77