Detroit Arts

NARRATOR: Support for this program is provided by the DTE Energy Foundation, a proud presenter of the 21st annual Sphinx competition.

The DTE Energy Foundation congratulates the Sphinx Organization and supports their work to transform lives and communities.

(lively orchestral music) The Sphinx Organization, it's a multidimensional organization, and I'm very honored to be here.

Sphinx means opportunity to grow as a person and as an ambassador for not only the arts but also inclusion and diversity and all of the things that are so integral to Sphinx's vision.

It's a center of artistry and diversity, and they've enabled some of the greatest opportunities that I've had.

(audience applauding and cheering) (contemplative violin music) My name is Ruben Rengel.

I'm from Caracas, Venezuela, originally.

I'm going to school now in Houston at Rice University.

I play violin, and I'm 22 years old.

I come from a musical family.

My dad plays Venezuelan folk music, and I started really young.

It was always an environment of music at home.

I think music should reach as much people as possible, and that's my goal, personally.

Of course, that requires achieving a great level of artistry and technique, and that'll give me the opportunity to reach as many people as possible.

(contemplative violin music) (audience applauding and cheering) (audience applauding and cheering) (contemplative cello music) My name is Gabriel Martins.

I'm 19 years old.

I'm from Bloomington, Indiana, and I play the cello.

I'll be playing the last movement of the cello concerto by Robert Schumann.

Schumann is an interesting composer because he was troubled with schizophrenia for his whole life.

If you heard it on first glance, you wouldn't think that at all.

You'd think it's this joyous, happy music.

But I think it's essential to understand all the voices in his head and all the characters that are coming through.

In that moment, it's like you'll have one scene and then, seconds later, you're in a completely different world.

(lively orchestral music) This is an amazing opportunity.

The orchestra is made up of musicians from around the world, but they all come together, all incredibly competent in their own right.

What I love to do more than anything is just to perform, to play great music, and to communicate and express that music to audiences.

(contemplative cello music) (audience applauding and cheering) (audience applauding and cheering) (contemplative violin music) My name's Randall Goosby.

I play violin, and I am 21 years old.

I'm from Memphis but I currently live in New York City.

Sphinx has been pretty, pretty integral in my growth.

I was actually here after winning the junior division when I competed in 2010, so I was 13.

And, to me, Sphinx means opportunity, I think more than anything, not just an opportunity to go out and perform and share my music and my love for music with others but also the opportunity to grow as a person and as an ambassador for not only the arts but also inclusion and diversity and all of the things that are so integral to Sphinx's vision.

The opportunity to meet and connect with so many different people from so many different backgrounds and cultures who are united by this goal and by this vision that we all share.

They have gone from Aaron Dworkin the founder, started the competition with 12 people, and this is the 21st annual competition.

So, in 20 years, it's grown and you know, it's now an international organization transforming lives through diversity in the arts, and, I mean, that pretty much sums it up.

(contemplative violin music) (audience applauding and cheering) (audience applauding and cheering) ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen please welcome the President and Artistic Director of the Sphinx Organization, Afa Dworkin.

(audience applauds and cheers) Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the 21st Annual Sphinx Competition, presented by the DTE Energy Foundation.

(audience applauds and cheers) And now, the moment we've all been waiting for.

I'd like to ask our laureates and our award presenters to come to the stage for the presentation of our finals jury's decision.

(audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) Please welcome to the podium Greg Ruvolo, Manager of Community Relations and Online Communications at the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services to present the Audience Choice Award.

(audience applauds and cheers) Good afternoon.

I'm honored to be here with you today at the 2018 Sphinx Competition Finals.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services is proud to support the Audience Choice Award for the seventh consecutive year.

Now it is my honor to share the results of the live vote that took place just moments ago.

The winner of the Audience Choice Award of $5,000 in the 21st Annual Sphinx Competition Senior Division is Randall Goosby.

(audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) AFA: Now, here to present our third place award is Angela Polk with Ford Motor Company Fund.

(audience applauds and cheers) Thank you and good afternoon.

It's my pleasure to be here with you this afternoon on behalf of Ford Motor Company Fund.

And now it is my pleasure to present to you the third place award, and that happens to go to Mr. Randall Goosby.

(audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) Here to present our second place award is Mary Beth Halprin, Vice-Chair of Sphinx's Board of Directors and Director for Corporate Communications at the Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

(audience applauds and cheers) Thank you, Afa.

What a wonderful day it's been.

Hasn't it really warmed your heart?

And you're not thinking about that snow outside.

You're thinking about just how beautiful you feel, here on the inside.

I'm honored to be here today to recognize this 21st year of Sphinx music.

Its now my pleasure to announce the second place winner.

The second place winner, which will be awarded $20,000 here for the 21st Annual Sphinx Competition Senior Division goes to Gabriel Martins.

(audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) It is my distinct pleasure to introduce our final award presenter who'll present the Robert Frederick Smith Prize.

The DTE Energy Foundation has generously supported the Sphinx Organization's effort to enrich the lives of young people in our community for the past 12 years.

I am honored to introduce Lynette Dowler, President of the DTE Energy Foundation.

(audience applauds and cheers) Good afternoon.

As president of the DTE Energy Foundation, I am honored to present this prestigious Senior Division First Place Award.

The winner of the Robert Frederick Smith Prize of $50,000 in the 21st Annual Sphinx Competition Senior Division is Rubn Rengel.

(audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) Thank you to our award presenters, to our sponsors, and to all the laureates.

You may exit the stage.

(audience applauds and cheers) This past year a world-renown conductor, a pedagogue, and leader in the choral world approached us with an urgent idea to create the first professional choral ensemble dedicated to excellence and diversity.

That visionary was Eugene Rogers, Professor of Choral Conducting at the University of Michigan, School of Music Theater and Dance, and recipient of Sphinx's 2017 Medal of Excellence Award.

At that moment a creative partnership was born and the rest was history.

Having just given a rousing pair of premiere performances this week, the ensemble brought their contagious love of music to this magnificent stage.

Ladies and gentleman, please join me in offering a Detroit welcome to the first professional Black and Latino Vocal Ensemble EXIGENCE under the direction of Maestro Eugene Rogers.

(audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (singing lyrics from: "From Heaven Distilled a Clemency") (audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) Have you seen Mirror focus Running, rolling, riding over skin Turning, looking back Seeing truth ready Take it back Run See how we can be a fountain Take a seat See us fighting back Soul See us fighting back Not getting love back Soul They saw us fighting back To reach a love that Means we're never going back Have you seen Mirror focus Running, rolling, riding over skin Turning, looking back Seeing truth ready Take it back Run, see how we can be a fountain Take a seat See us fighting back Soul See us fighting back Not getting love back Soul They saw us fighting back To reach a love that Means we're never going back How many dreamt this dream How many dreamt this dream How many dreamt this dream How many dreamt this dream Focused energy We break free We break free Dignity, destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Taking it back Come see How high Ready Taking it back Come see How high See through the light To bring in the light You don't have to bring in the light We brought life to bring in the light We brought life to bring in the light We brought life to bring in the light You don't have to bring in the light We brought life to bring in the light We brought life to bring in the light We brought life to bring in the... (singing) Dignity, destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Destiny, synchrony, brave and liberty Brave and liberty Brave and dignity Taking it back Come see How high Ready Taking it back Come see How high See you in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the light We want life to bring in the... (singing) Have you seen Mirror focus Running, rolling, riding over skin Turning, looking back Seeing truth ready Take it back Run, see how we can be a fountain Take a seat See us fighting back Soul See us fighting back Not getting love back Soul They saw us fighting back To reach a love that Means we're never going back A vision's unfolding a dream to reach empathy A vision's unfolding a dream Was within our reach A vision's unfolding a dream To reach empathy See how you see A vision's unfolding a dream Was within our reach See how you see A vision's unfolding a dream More than harmony See how you see A vision's unfolding a dream Focused energy See how you see A vision's unfolding a dream Focused energy See how you see A vision's unfolding a dream Focused energy See how you see (audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) (audience applauds and cheers) NARRATOR: Support for this program is provided by the DTE Energy Foundation, a proud presenter of the 21st annual Sphinx competition.

The DTE Energy Foundation congratulates the Sphinx Organization and supports their work to transform lives and communities.