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New Curtis-Sphinx summer program aims to train black and Latino string players

The program will provide full scholarships for 32 students.

The Sphinx Virtuosi on a visit to the Curtis Institute of Music in October.
The Sphinx Virtuosi on a visit to the Curtis Institute of Music in October.Read moreSphinx Organization

The Curtis Institute of Music and the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization will work together to bring 32 student string players to the school this summer for two weeks of full-scholarship study.

The Sphinx Performance Academy, which assists black and Latino players, will collaborate with Curtis' Summerfest program to seek potential students both nationwide and in the Philadelphia area.

Violinists, violists and cellists will study with a faculty that includes Curtis alumni, and they will have the cost of both tuition and room and board at Curtis' dorm covered in full. "This is the first time at Curtis that we've been able to offer a summer program with no financial barriers," said Lourdes Starr Demers, Curtis' senior vice president of artistic operations.

Students will receive individual lessons, ensemble coachings, mentoring, and will hear faculty members performing in Curtis' Summerfest concert series.

Potential students in the Philadelphia area will be sought through the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth, a network of local music groups for children that includes the School District of Philadelphia.

Sphinx Performance Academy at Curtis Summerfest will take place June 10-24. Applications are available online at http://www.curtis.edu and are due April 11.