Detroit, MI
Sphinx competition: how to prepare
Sphinx Competition screens applicants before any live round. Yes. A video audition is required, one piece per file with no editing and the applicant on screen throughout. Finals are live in Detroit. The fastest way to get your take to standard is to fix the passage holding it back, on the same five dimensions a panel listens for, before you ever hit submit.
Eligibility, repertoire, and dates change every cycle. Always confirm the current, official rules before you prepare: Sphinx official site
Frequently asked
Does the Sphinx competition use a recorded or video round?
Yes. A video audition is required, one piece per file with no editing and the applicant on screen throughout. Finals are live in Detroit.
Who can enter the Sphinx competition?
Black and Latinx violin, viola, cello, and bass players under age 30, in Junior and Senior divisions. Eligibility can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site.
What repertoire does Sphinx require?
Varies by division and cycle, typically including Bach and concerto repertoire. Confirm the current list on the official site. Always confirm the exact, current requirements on the official page.
How can I practice my Sphinx prescreen recording?
Practice it with the teacher first, free, no signup. Talk through your Sphinx excerpt, get the one specific fix that is actually costing you points, then run it again before the real thing.
One passage standing between you and the Sphinx deadline?
Tell the teacher which passage it is and what goes wrong in it. Real fix in 30 seconds. Free to try, no card.
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