Randall Goosby is awarded 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence
Pianist Michelle Cann, violinist Randall Goosby, and soprano Karen Slack each receive the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and a $50,000 career grant
For Immediate Release
SPHINX ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2022 SPHINX MEDALS OF EXCELLENCE, WHICH CELEBRATE MUSICIANS OF COLOR
DETROIT (July 26, 2021) — The Sphinx Organization has announced the three recipients of the 2022 Sphinx Medals of Excellence: pianist Michelle Cann, violinist Randall Goosby, and soprano Karen Slack.
The Sphinx Medal of Excellence is the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization, the social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, and comes with a $50,000 career grant. The medal recognizes extraordinary classical musicians of color. Recipients are artists who early in their career demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, and an ongoing commitment to leadership and their communities.
Sphinx President and Artistic Director Afa Dworkin said that, in addition to their performance excellence, all three medalists bring an exceptional level of ambassadorship and advocacy to their work. “With our 11th annual Sphinx Medals of Excellence, we invite the world to celebrate the artistry and visionary leadership of Karen Slack and her #KikiKonversations as she sheds light upon historically excluded artists; we are thrilled to amplify Randall Goosby's Roots album as a project of musical and personal discovery; and applaud Michelle Cann's vision and ongoing excellence in uncovering and championing the voice of Florence Price, evolving the classical music canon for our sector. These leaders set extraordinary examples and Sphinx is proud to celebrate and support their talent.”
Since the inaugural presentation of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence in 2012 and including the 2022 recipients, the organization has awarded $1.38 million in career grants to 33 Black and Latinx artists including pianist Lara Downes, sopranos Raquel González and Ailyn Pérez, pianist/conductor/composer Damian Sneed, and bass-baritone Davóne Tines among others. The 2022 recipients will receive their medals on March 17, 2022 at a luncheon hosted by The Kennedy Center and a private back-tie dinner in Washington, D.C.
Goosby states: “I am truly grateful for this award and opportunity from the Sphinx Organization, whose indelible influence on my musicianship has brought me to this point in my career. Participating in the Sphinx Competition over a decade ago opened my eyes to the potential for myself and other musicians of color to make our mark on the world of classical music. I hope to continue making classical music ever more accessible to young musicians, especially those of color, and amplifying the work of marginalized creators within this field.” American violinist Randall Goosby is acclaimed for the sensitivity and intensity of his musicianship, as well as for his determination to make classical music more inclusive and accessible, including by bringing the music of under-represented composers to light. Mr. Goosby made his debut with the Jacksonville Symphony at age nine. At age 13, he performed with the New York Philharmonic in a Young People’s Concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall and the same year was one of the youngest-ever winners of the Sphinx Competition. He is a recipient of Sphinx’s Isaac Stern Award and a career advancement grant from the Bagby Foundation. He has performed with orchestras across the U.S., including the New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and New World Symphony. Recital appearances have included the Kennedy Center, Kravis Center, and Wigmore Hall. Mr. Goosby is deeply passionate about inspiring and serving others through education, social engagement, and outreach activities. He has worked with non-profit organizations such as the Opportunity Music Project and Concerts in Motion in New York City, as well as participating in community engagement programs for schools, hospitals, and assisted living facilities across the U.S. In 2020 he became an Ambassador for Music Masters, a role that sees him mentoring students in schools around the U.K. In 2020, at the age of 24, Mr. Goosby signed exclusively with Decca Classics, and his debut album, Roots— a celebration of African American music which explores its evolution from the spiritual through to present-day compositions—was released in June 2021. A graduate of The Juilliard School, he continues his studies there, pursuing an Artist Diploma under Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho.
ABOUT THE SPHINX ORGANIZATION
The Sphinx Organization is the social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Sphinx's four program areas – Education & Access, Artist Development, Performing Artists, and Arts Leadership – form a pipeline that develops and supports diversity and inclusion in classical music at every level: music education, artists performing on stage, the repertoire and programing being performed, the communities represented in audiences, and the artistic and administrative leadership within the field. Sphinx programs reach more than 100,000 students and artists, as well as live and broadcast audiences of more than two million annually.
Read more about Sphinx’s programs at www.SphinxMusic.org.