AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EXHIBIT!
Development Center in West Bloomfield.
To give less fortunate children some
of
the opportunities he had while grow-
a screen, where he or she cannot be seen
ing
up, Dworkin has developed an edu-
— as the sole criterion for membership
cation
program through the Sphinx
in a symphony orchestra.
Organization.
Sphinx award-winners go
If they really want to encourage
to
schools
in
underserved
neighbor-
diversity in their audiences, orchestra
hoods
throughout
the
country
to per-
managers must consider race as a fac-
form
for
the
students
and
lead
question-
tor when choosing players and
and-answer sessions.
soloists, he says.
There's also a Sphinx orchestra; a full-
"Orchestras have refused to take this
scholarship
Sphinx summer camp, start-
step," he adds. "Every other significant
ing
this
summer
in Natick, Mass.; and,
institution in American society has
still in the planning stages for later this
done so."
year, a Sphinx Preparatory Music
However, he emphasized, inferior
Institute, to take place for 10 consecu-
musicians do not belong on stage with
America's most prestigious orchestras, no tive Saturdays in downtown Detroit.
When the young Sphinx award-win-
matter what ethnic group they belong
ners
go into inner-city schools, they don't
to. In fact, Dworkin says, there have
just
start
playing, Dworkin says. Instead,
been years when the Sphinx
they tie their music to the children's
Competition has not awarded a specific
experiences, "from Sponge Bob Square-
prize, or has advised a sponsoring
Pants to spirituals to Mozart, Beethoven
orchestra not to feature a specific black
and Brahms to contemporary music."
or Latino soloist.
The performers, all young black
"Otherwise, you end up doing more
and
Latino string players, talk about
harm than good," he adds.
how
composers use music to express
Before even entertaining the idea of
how they feel.
performing with a symphony orchestra,
"The kids already hear classical music
children from minority groups have to
in
cartoons, in movies," Dworkin says.
see that classical music is a transcendent-
"We
show them you don't need the car-
ly beautiful art form that offers them
toons,
don't need the movies — you can
viable careers. That's another of
enjoy
the
music for itself."
Dworkin's. goals.
By
the
time
the performers leave, the
"Studies have shown that classical
young
audience
members want their
music is critical for children's develop-
autographs.
ment," he says, citing the effects of
"The level of excitement, the level of
musical training on math and science
enthusiasm
among young kids is incred-
scores and goal setting. "In addition,
ible,"
Dworkin
says, reflecting that same
playing a musical instrument does
excitement
in
his
own voice. "We want
something to increase children's ability
to
get
to
them
with
this incredible, tran-
to express themselves and to understand
scendent music before society tells them
how others feel."
they shouldn't like it." ❑
CLASSICS
from page 35
MARSQUEST
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W01710.rit
Jewish Influences
In his own life, learning to play the vio-
lin was a mind-expanding experience,
Dworkin says, adding that he will be
forever grateful to his mother, who died
last year, for giving him that opportuni-
ty. It's an opportunity he is sure he
would not have had if, instead of being
adopted, he had bounced from one fos-
ter home to another.
His parents, Barry and Sue Dworkin,
"didn't have to adopt me," he says.
"They could have given birth to another
child. They wanted to make a difference
in the world, to adopt this baby, give
him the best possible skills and let him
go wherever those skills lead him."
His parents never gave him a "heavy
African-American background," he says.
"Being Jewish is a very important part
of me. It made me who I am."
Today, Dworkin lives in Ypsilanti. His
son attends the Jewish Community
Center's Sarah and Irving Pitt Child
The documentary The Sphinx
Competition: Breaking the Sound
Barrier airing 10 p.m. Monday,
Feb. 16, on Detroit Public
Television-Channel 56, centers
on the 2003 Sphinx Competition
and examines the lack of diversi-
ty in today's orchestras. Check
your local listings.
The 2004 Sphinx
Competitions Finals Concert
takes place 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb.
22, at Orchestra Hall in Detroit;
$10. (313) 576-5111.
For more information about
other 2004 Sphinx Competition
events or any other programs of
the Sphinx Organization, call
(313) 877-9100 or see
www.sphinxmusic.org .
Aar
2/13
2004
37