Sphinx Virtuosi
Five Junior finalists (violin)
Mason Bates New commission for violin and string orchestra (world premiere)
Vivaldi The Four Seasons, Op. 8, Nos. 1-4
The Finals of the Junior section in the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2021. Five of the world’s best young violinists under the age of 16 will compete for one of the coveted awards. Each finalist will lead one of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons from the violin and perform a new commission for violin and string orchestra written by Mason Bates.
Audience members will also have the opportunity to vote for a finalist to be awarded the Audience Prize.
The prizewinners will be announced at the end of the evening.
New work funded by Richard S. Reynolds Foundation.
Artists' Biographies
For biographies of all of our competitors, please see our Participants page.
Sphinx Virtuosi
The Sphinx Virtuosi has defined itself as the most diverse professional chamber orchestra in the country. The dynamism in its approach to music making offers an experience of unmatched vibrancy for seasoned and new audiences alike. These artists tour annually as cultural ambassadors to communities far and wide.
The Sphinx Virtuosi continues to garner critical acclaim during its annual national tours to leading venues around the country. Inspired by Sphinx’s overarching mission of transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, the Sphinx Virtuosi works to advance the social impact of music upon our greater society. Dedicated to new music, the ensemble has pioneered the discovery of gems by composers of color, with the aim of expanding the canon and amplifying new and important voices.
The Sphinx Virtuosi is passionate about empowering the next generation of artists and audiences, and as such, enjoy building interactive, bi-lingual (English/Spanish) programs and working with schools in underrepresented communities.