With over $100,000 in prize money awarded in total, double bassist Kebra-Seyoun Charles took the senior division first prize of $50,000
The results of the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition were decided on 29 January. Honouring young Black and Latinx string players, the prizes for the senior and junior divisions are as follows:
Senior division:
1st prize, Robert Frederick Smith Prize ($50,000): Kebra-Seyoun Charles, double bass
2nd prize, Audience Choice award ($20,000): Gabriela Lara, violin
3rd prize ($10,000): Harper Randolph, viola
Junior division:
1st prize ($10,000): Jonathan Okseniuk, violin
2nd prize, Audience Choice award ($5000): Brandon Leonard, cello
3rd prize ($3000): Ana Isabella España, violin
Charles hails from Miami, Florida and currently studies at The Juilliard School with Joseph Conyers. Okseniuk lives in Mesa, Arizona where he studies at the Arete Preparatory Academy with Jing Zeng. As laureates, Charles and Okseniuk will also be awarded solo appearances with major U.S. orchestras and Okseniuk will be featured on the national radio broadcast, From the Top.
The 2022 Sphinx Competition panel of seven judges was comprised of cellist Zuill Bailey, associate professor of violin at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Danielle Belen, violist Juan-Miguel Hernandez, cellist Patrice Jackson, violinist Midori, bassist Laura Snyder, and violinist Melissa White.
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