Aaron Dworkin
Aaron P. Dworkin is currently a tenured full professor of arts leadership and entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance, one of the top performing arts schools in the USA. He is the founder of The Sphinx Organization, a leading arts organization transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts and is the recipient of many awards, including the Royal Philharmonic Society Honorary Membership and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, and was named a 2005 MacArthur Fellow.
Aaron holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in violin performance from the University of Michigan and, in 2013, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the renowned Curtis Institute of Music. He has served as a juror for numerous international competitions, including the London Music Masters Competition, Stulberg International Violin Competition and the Sphinx Competition.
He is married to Afa Sadykhly Dworkin, a prominent international arts leader who serves as President and Artistic Director of the Sphinx Organization and has two sons, Noah Still and Amani Jaise. He is also a best-selling author including The Entrepreneurial Artist: Lessons from Highly Successful Creatives.
“The opportunity to serve in this role for one of the most prestigious competitions in the world is truly transformative for me. Yehudi was the first member of the Honorary Committee of the Sphinx Organization and agreed to be supportive when I was still an undergraduate violin student at Michigan. As one of the greatest icons in our field, he embodied a commitment to artistic excellence while maintaining a belief in the role that music plays in our overall society. This Competition continues his legacy by identifying and showcasing the ever-evolving talent that our discipline brings to light. I am honored and humbled to serve alongside such luminaries in our art form.”