On
March 19, 2014, Sphinx will honor three outstanding artists of color
who demonstrate the following qualities: artistic excellence,
outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, and great potential
for leadership.
Damien Sneed, Carla Dirlikov and Pedrito Martinez
These
three artists are the recipients of the third annual Sphinx Medals of
Excellence. The awards will be bestowed at the official Sphinx Medals of
Excellence luncheon and honorees will be celebrated at a black-tie
private dinner in Washington, D.C. The three Medalists will also each
receive a $50,000 artist scholarship for their career development.
“We
are proud to celebrate the incredible successes of Damien, Carla and
Pedrito! Their contributions have been transformational to our art form,
as well as our communities,” said Sphinx Founder and President, Aaron
P. Dworkin.
Damien Sneed
A
sought after pianist, organist, vocal coach, conductor, composer,
arranger, lecturer, and producer, Damien Sneed is a native of Augusta,
Georgia. He served as the musical director for the hit Gospel singing
competition television show, Sunday Best, on the Black Entertainment
Television (BET) channel. His conducting debut took place in April 2008
at Jazz at Lincoln Center where he conducted the world premiere of
Wynton Marsalis’ Abyssinian Mass with the Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra and a 150-voice choir. Then, with a piece that he arranged and
scored for the entire 64-piece New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, his
compositional debut took place in June 2008 along with American Idol
Finalist Anwar Robinson and conductor Thomas Wilkins. Shifting between
classical to jazz to gospel to opera to Broadway, he accompanied Jessye
Norman on piano with 5 spirituals that he arranged in honor of Abraham
Lincoln’s Bicentennial at the Grand Opening of Ford’s Theater in
Washington, DC for President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama. He
was nominated for a Grammy in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Carla Dirlikov
Carla
Dirlikov was recently described by Opera Magazine as having “the most
compelling voice…one that grabbed the heartstrings with its dramatic
force and musicality.” Ms. Dirlikov’s recent engagements of note include
Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem at Washington National Cathedral and
Preziosilla La Forza del Destino Opera Royal de Wallonie, conducted by
Paolo Arrivabeni. Ms. Dirlikov has toured China, US and Europe with solo
recitals and opera roles. She received her Bachelors in Music from the
University of Michigan, where she studied with Shirley Verrett. She
continued her studies at the Conservatoire National de Paris, and
completed her Master’s degree in Opera Performance at McGill University
in Montreal. Born the daughter of a Bulgarian father and a Mexican
mother, Miss Dirlikov was recently awarded the title of Cultural Envoy
to Mexico, where she continues to work and teach music to orphaned and
poverty-stricken youth. She also sings extensively as a soloist
throughout Mexico and South America.
Pedrito Martinez
Pedro
Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, and began his
musical career at the age of 11, performing as vocalist and
percussionist playing with such Cuban legends as Tata Guines, Munequitos
de Matanzas. After coming to North America to pursue his career,
Pedrito won first place in the annual Thelonious Monk Institute
Competition showcasing Afro-Latin Hand Drumming. Since then, Pedrito has
performed, recorded, and/or toured with Paquito D’Rivera; Brian Lynch;
Steve Turre; Me’shell Ndege’Ocello; Cassandra Wilson; Sting, and others.
The Pedrito Martinez Group has its roots planted firmly in the
Afro-Cuban Rumba tradition and in the bata rhythms and vocal chants of
the music of Yoruba and Santeria. With its formation in the current
lineup in 2008, the group has developed into an extraordinarily tight
and creative unit. Members include percussionist, Jhair Sala, from Lima,
Peru; electric bassist, Alvaro Benavides, from Caracas, Venezuela; and
keyboard player/vocalist, Araicne Trujillo, from Havana, Cuba.
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