Aja Burrell Wood is a ethnomusicologist and proud Wolverine who teaches about African American music at Brooklyn College and the New School. Follow her at @alwaysaja.
Recently, we were very excited to hear that Aaron Dworkin, founder and president of the acclaimed Sphinx Organization, was appointed Dean of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance beginning July 20, 2015! Aaron Dworkin will serve as the first African-American Dean of University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, which is recognized as one of the nation’s foremost performing arts schools.
Under Dworkin’s leadership, the Sphinx Organization, with a mission to “transform lives through the power of diversity in the arts,” has made tremendous strides receiving well-deserved attention and acclaim for its excellence and impact on diversity in the performing arts. Since Dworkin founded Sphinx in 1996, its programs have provided much needed access to classical music professionals and resources as well as training and artistic development for underrepresented aspiring artists. One of their most notable initiatives is their annual Sphinx Competition which is open to all Junior High, High School, and College age Black and Latino String classical musicians in Detroit, Michigan.
An alumnus of U-M School of Music, Dworkin’s remarkable accomplishments also include a MacArthur Fellowship, President Obama’s first appointment to the National Council on the Arts, and membership to the Royal Philharmonic Society in London. Dworkin stands as a distinguished, forward-thinking leader with considerable vision and commitment in service to the arts and its ability to inspire and affect change. In the announcement posted by U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Dworkin states of his new role:
I am tremendously honored to be joining a community comprised of leaders committed to scholarship and artistic excellence. As we progress into an age that redefines artistic pursuits, I am eager to bring my experience and skill sets to bear as we nurture and empower a diverse student body.
The university’s Board of Regents approved Dworkin’s appointment for a five-year term on March 19th. He will also be serving as the Paul Boylan Collegiate Professor of Music and tenured professor of strings. Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Martha E. Pollack emphasizes her complete support for Dworkin’s appointment:
His lifelong commitment to excellence in arts education is widely recognized in the United States and abroad. I look forward to welcoming alumnus Aaron Dworkin back to campus next summer and working together with the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance as they prepare and inspire the next generation of performing artists.
So do we!
This is not only great news for the university, but also holds immense significance for diversity and the arts. Universities and colleges can be vital channels for those seeking to become professional artists, providing the necessary rigorous training and development with some of the best educators and resources available. As a top tier school of music, Dworkin’s appointment is a demonstration of the University of Michigan’s commitment to excellence and more broadly suggests incredible progress for diversity in the performing arts in the nation.
Other U-M School of Music Theatre & Dance distinguished alumni of African decent also include, opera singer Jessye Norman, violinist and composer Daniel Bernard Romain and some of our favorites here at Musiqology, Drs. Guthrie Ramsey, Kyra Gaunt and William Banfield!
Musiqology extends hearty congratulations to Dean Aaron Dworkin! Go Blue!
For more information on Dworkin’s appointment click HERE
A hearty congratulations to Dean Aaron Dworkin and Go Blue!
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Sphinx Organization
The Sphinx Organization is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1996 by University of Michigan graduates Aaron Dworkin and Carrie Chester. Dworkin and Chester sought to increase cultural diversity in the field of classical music and simultaneously combat cultural stereotypes. The mission of the organization is, first, to increase the participation of blacks and Latinos as students in music schools, as professional musicians, and as classical music audiences; and second, to administer youth development initiatives in underserved communities through music education and by providing high-quality musical instruments.
The Sphinx Competition, a cornerstone program, began in 1998 as an annual string competition for black and Latino classical string players, from junior high through college, who compete for prizes and scholarships. The organization has since expanded to include an additional professional, educational, community outreach, and performance initiatives under their Artist Development, Sphinx Prep, Sphinx Performance Academy, Sphinx Legacy Project, and Sphinx Presents programs. Sphinx also currently maintains ensembles comprised of critically acclaimed professionals: The Sphinx Symphony, Sphinx Virtuosi, and Catalyst Quartet. The organization also regularly commissions, programs, and archives works by Black and Latino composers.
Tags: aaron dworkin, academia, sphinx organizatoin, University of Michigan
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