Two Interlochen-affiliated artists receive Sphinx MPower Artist Grants
Arts Camp alumna Kamilah Brown and former Arts Camp faculty member Titus Underwood received a combined total of more than $6,000 to further their careers in classical music.
Violist Kamilah Brown (left) and oboist Titus Underwood (right).
Interlochen Arts Camp alumna Kamilah Brown (IAC 19) and former Interlochen Arts Camp faculty member Titus Underwood (IAC Fac 21) are among the 15 artists selected to receive 2023 Sphinx MPower Artist Grants.
First awarded in 2014, the Sphinx MPower Artists Grants empower alumni of the Sphinx Organization’s programs—including the Sphinx Competition, Sphinx Virtuosi, Sphinx Performance Academy, and Sphinx Lead, among others—to achieve their career objectives in classical music. Grants range from $1,000 to $15,000 based on the scope, need, and nature of the application.
Brown, a violist and alumna of the Sphinx Performance Academy, will receive a $1,080 grant to evaluate and select a graduate program. The grant will allow Brown to explore many options and make a well-informed choice that aligns with her goals and aspirations.
Underwood, a 2021 recipient of the Sphinx Medal of Excellence and a member of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, was awarded a $5,000 grant to complete the pilot for a children’s series that creatively introduces musical instruments through storytelling. Underwood currently serves as the Principal Oboe for the Nashville Symphony.
Founded in 1997 by Interlochen Arts Academy alumnus and former trustee Aaron Dworkin (IAA 86-88), the Sphinx Organization is a social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. The organization seeks to increase representation in classical music by providing educational programs, recognition and performance opportunities, career grants, and professional development opportunities for Black and Latinx musicians, administrators, and arts entrepreneurs of all ages.
