- You're watching the Annual Sphinx Competition, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

Stay tuned to hear our remarkable string player finalists as they compete in this annual competition.

- [Announcer] Support for this program is provided by the DTE Foundation; a proud presenter of the Sphinx Competition.

The DTE Foundation congratulates this Sphinx organization and supports their work to transform lives and communities.

("Violin Concerto No.4 in D Major, K.218" by W.A.

Mozart) - Good evening, and thank you for joining the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition.

I'm Lara Downes, and I'll be your host for this very special broadcast.

The Sphinx Competition is a national competition that offers young Black and Latinx classical string players an opportunity to compete and perform under the guidance of an internationally-renowned panel of judges.

The finalists will perform virtually and compete for prizes, which will be announced at the end of the broadcast.

So stay tuned.

And now it's time to introduce our junior finalists.

Our first laureate to perform this evening is Jonathan Okseniuk.

Jonathan is a violinist from Mesa, Arizona.

When he's not making music, he enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his friends and family.

Jonathan's going to perform the first movement of Mozart's fourth violin concerto.

("Violin Concerto No.4 in D Major, K.218" by W.A.

Mozart) The second laureate to perform this evening is cellist Brandon Leonard.

Brandon is from Stone Mountain, Georgia.

He loves nature, and he's looking forward to hearing some great music and getting to know his fellow finalists sometime soon.

Brandon is playing the first movement of Haydn's "C Major Cello Concerto."

("Cello Concerto No.

1 in C Major" by J. Haydn) Our third laureate in the junior division is Ana Isabella Espana.

Ana was born and raised in New York City, and she started playing the violin when she was just four years old.

In addition to violin, she also plays piano and ukulele.

And she loves bubble tea and thrift shopping.

Ana is playing the first movement of Mozart's "Violin Concerto No.

4."

("Violin Concerto No.4 in D Major, K.218" by W.A.

Mozart) I want to congratulate all three junior finalists on those beautiful performances.

Welcome to the senior division of the 2022 Sphinx Competition.

Let's talk for a moment about the prizes.

The third place winner in this division will win $10,000; the second place $20,000; and the first prize winner in this division will receive the Robert Frederick Smith Award of $50,000.

These awards means so much to young artists at this critical phase in their careers.

I'm so excited to introduce the first laureate to perform tonight from the senior division.

Violinist, Gabriela Lara comes from Venezuela, where her hometown of Barquisimeto is called the musical city and also the city of sunsets because of its rich musical traditions and its spectacular sunsets.

Gabriela is going to play the first movement of the "Concerto in G Minor" by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

("Violin Concerto in G Minor, Op 80" by S. Coleridge-Taylor) Our second laureate in the senior division is violist Harper Randolph.

Harper's from D.C. And she loves taking long walks, checking out new restaurants, and spending time with her friends and her family.

Harper's going to play the fourth movement of the "Viola Concerto" by Roberto Sierra.

("Viola Concerto" by Roberto Sierra) Our third laureate to perform tonight in the senior division of the 2022 Sphinx Competition is Kebra-Seyoun Charles.

He's a classical bassist from Miami.

And in his free time, he loves getting piercings and watching anime.

He's going to perform the third movement titled "Allegro Obsesivo" of the "Bass Concerto No.1" by Andres Martin.

("'Allegro Obsesivo' Bass Concerto No.1" by Andres Martin) And now it's the moment we've all been waiting for.

Please welcome all six finalists who are joining us live from their homes.

It's my honor and my pleasure to deliver to you the results of our jury's decision.

Hi everybody.

The third place award in the junior division of the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition, with a cash prize of $3,000, goes to Ana Isabella Espana.

Congratulations, Ana.

The second prize in the junior division of the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition, a cash prize of $5,000, goes to cellist Brandon Leonard.

Congratulations, Brandon, And the first place award and the title of Bauder Fellow in the junior division, with a cash prize of $10,000, goes to violinist Jonathan Okseniuk.

Congratulations, Jonathan.

(laureates applauding) Congratulations to all three of you.

We can't wait to celebrate your talents in person very soon.

And now let's welcome our senior division laureates.

The third place award in the senior division of the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition, with a cash prize of $10,000, goes to violist Harper Randolph.

Congratulations, Harper.

(laureates applauding) The second place award, with a cash prize of $20,000, goes to Gabriela Lara.

Congratulations.

And the first place award and the title of Robert Frederick Smith Prize in the senior division of the 25th Annual Sphinx Competition, with a cash prize of $50,000, goes to Kebra-Seyoun Charles.

Congratulations, Kebra.

(laureates applauding) I want to congratulate all of you on such beautiful performances.

It's been such a privilege and a pleasure to hear you.

It's been an honor to be your host for this 25th Annual Sphinx Competition.

Thank you so much for tuning in.

And have a beautiful night.

("Violin Concerto No.4 in D Major, K.218" by W.A.

Mozart) - [Announcer] Support for this program is provided by the DTE Foundation; a proud presenter of the Sphinx Competition.

The DTE Foundation congratulates the Sphinx organization and supports their work to transform lives and communities.