Carnegie Hall

The Sphinx Virtuosi is a dynamic and inspiring professional, self-conducted chamber orchestra and serves as the flagship performing entity of the Sphinx Organization, the leading social justice nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. Comprising 18 accomplished Black and Latinx artists, the Sphinx Virtuosi aims to evolve and transform the face of classical music through artistic excellence, pioneering programming, and impassioned community engagement. Its members serve as cultural and diversity ambassadors for audiences and communities around the US and abroad.

Since 2004, the Sphinx Virtuosi’s concerts have been presented by leading arts organizations, including annual performances at Carnegie Hall as an established highlight of its fall season. Frequently selling out venues, the ensemble has garnered effusive accolades, including from The New York Times, which described the group as “top-notch ... more essential at this moment than ever,” giving “a vibrant, assured performance.” The Washington Post wrote, “True to their name, the Sphinx Virtuosi call up the vision of an iconic mythological feline with its immeasurable power, unwavering command, and soulful beauty.” Its debut album, Songs for Our Times, was released on Deutsche Grammophon in July 2023 and represents the rich history of the Sphinx Organization and the vibrant future of classical music by centering the artistry of extraordinary composers and artistic visionaries of color.

Heralded for their kaleidoscopically varied repertoire and bold thematic programming, Sphinx Virtuosi concerts give prominence to historically excluded Black and Latinx composers such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Alberto Ginastera, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Florence Price, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and George Walker. In an effort to expand its repertoire and engage new audiences, the ensemble commissions new works annually, including major new works from Michael Abels, Terence Blanchard, Valerie Coleman, Xavier Foley, Ricardo Herz, Jimmy López Bellido, Jessie Montgomery, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Carlos Simon. Members of the Sphinx Virtuosi have performed as soloists with major American orchestras that include the Atlanta, Detroit, and Pittsburgh symphony orchestras; The Cleveland Orchestra; New York Philharmonic; The Philadelphia Orchestra; and Seattle Symphony.

Xavier Foley is known for communicating his virtuosity and passion for music on the bass, which is rarely presented as a solo instrument. He is a first-prize winner of the 2016 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, winner of the 2014 Sphinx Competition, and a 2018 recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant. He has performed recitals at Shriver Hall, Rockport Music, La Jolla Chamber Music Society, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, National Gallery of Art, and Harriman-Jewell Series. An avid chamber musician, he has been presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Marlboro Music Festival, Tippet Rise Music Festival, Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, and Skaneateles Festival.

A composer in high demand, Mr. Foley wrote For Justice and Peace, which was premiered by the Sphinx Organization at Carnegie Hall in October 2019. It has since been performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, New West Symphony, Oregon Symphony, and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. His bass concerto Soul Bass, commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, was premiered by the orchestra in March 2022 and will be performed again this season with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Jonathon Heyward.

He has been commissioned by Santa Fe Pro Musica, The Cabrillo Festival in conjunction with the Mahler Foundation, the Sphinx Organization co-commissioned with Carnegie Hall and the New World Symphony, Chicago Symphony’s MusicNOW (curated by Jessie Montgomery), and the Oregon Symphony, where he is also artist-in-residence.

Kebra-Seyoun Charles is a bassist originally from Miami, Florida. They received their bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where they studied with Todd Seeber and Lawrence Wolfe. Currently they study at The Juilliard School with Joseph Conyers in pursuit of a master’s degree. They are also a recipient of the prestigious Jerome L. Greene and Morse Teaching Artist Fellowships.

Growing up the child of an African drummer and dancer, Charles was exposed to music at a very early age. Early exposure to jazz, gospel, and traditional African music led them to express interest in other forms of music. They now study classical music passionately and draw influence and inspiration from ostensibly contrasting genres and musicians. In line with this upbringing, Charles gives prominence to the dance qualities in all forms of music. Exhibiting their versatility, they have played alongside esteemed improviser and composer Tyshawn Sorey, and in the Slugs’ Saloon installation at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston created by famed jazz musician and composer Jason Moran.

American soprano Aundi Marie Moore’s recent highlights include her debut at Dutch National Opera as Mother in Blue, a role she also sang at Toledo Opera. She appeared as Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, and she joined the Pacific Chorale for its European tour with a program of works by Price and Haydn. Ms. Moore was awarded the 2023 Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence, an acknowledgement of her artistic achievements, work ethic, and spirit of determination.

Previous career successes on the opera stage include her highly lauded appearance as Strawberry Woman in Porgy and Bess at The Metropolitan Opera, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at L’Opéra de Monte-Carlo in her international operatic debut, Nedda in Pagliacci at Sarasota Opera, Mimi in La Bohème at the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival, Serena in Porgy and Bess at The Atlanta Opera and Virginia Opera, Young African American Soprano in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s Rappahannock County at Virginia Opera, Soprano 2 in the US premiere of Michael Nyman’s Facing Goya at Spoleto Festival, and the role of Odessa Clay in the world premiere of D. J. Sparr’s Approaching Ali, commissioned by the Washington National Opera.

A member of the Cafritz Young Artists of Washington National Opera program, Ms. Moore has appeared at the Washington National Opera numerous times, including under the baton of Plácido Domingo. She participated in the Salzburg Music Festival Young Singers Project in 2008, where she covered the roles and sang as a featured soloist in the gala concert conducted by Ivor Bolton. She has won numerous competition prizes and awards from the National Opera Association, Palm Beach Opera, Young Patronesses of the Opera / Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition, The Mary E. Singletary Vocal Arts Competition for Emerging Artists (formerly Leontyne Price Vocal Arts Competition), Vocal Arts Discovery Series, American Traditions Vocal Competition, and The American Prize in Voice.

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe has established himself as a leading voice in the reimagining of classical music. Redefining the parameters of the cello, he moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from collaborations with world musicians and beatboxers, to concerto performances and solo recitals. He combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing, and body percussion, and is devoted to composing works and curating programs that highlight the links between musical traditions, broadening the horizons of classical music to reach a more diverse audience.

Mr. Selaocoe is Artistic Partner of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Artist Spotlight at London’s Barbican Centre, and Artist in Association with both the BBC Singers and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, performing with each ensemble throughout the season. He also continues to perform his solo cello concerto Four Spirits widely in the 2023–2024 season, including with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra at EFG London Jazz Festival, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonie Zuidnederland. He makes his debut at the Edinburgh International Festival, Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Vienna Konzerthaus, Luxembourg Philharmonie, and Konzerthaus Berlin.

Mr. Selaocoe completed his International Artist Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music in July 2018. In May 2021, he was announced as an inaugural Power Up Music Creator in PRS for Music’s new initiative to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector. In July 2021, he received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation award for his compositional work.

Mr. Selaocoe is an exclusive recording artist with Warner Classics.