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MPower Artist Grants
MPower Artist Grants are competitive scholarships designed to empower alumni of the Sphinx Competition (Semi-Finalists and/or Laureates), Sphinx Symphony, Sphinx Virtuosi, Sphinx Honors Orchestra, Sphinx Performance Academy, Sphinx Medals of Excellence, Sphinx LEAD, EXIGENCE, NAAS and/or SOPA (must have submitted a first round recording and/or participated in the live round) to achieve their career objectives in classical music.
Grants will range based on the scope, need, and nature of each competitive application. Grants may begin at $1,000 with an average award amount of $10,000. Requests exceeding $15,000 will not be accepted.
The primary purpose of MPower Artist Grants is to empower artists’ careers in classical music. As such, competitive applications should clearly illustrate the project's impact on an artist’s career. MPower does not generally focus on tuition for higher education/summer programs, the purchase of new instruments, or visa support, though exceptions may be considered.
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Cheyenne King-Bails, Manager of Leadership Programs
Application Information
Applications for Sphinx MPower Artist Grants are processed through our online Acceptd portal.
For eligibility and application requirements, please review the information below.
2025 MPower Recipients
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Alejandra Switala
Sphinx Competition
Sphinx Virtuosi$15,000
The MPower Artist Grant will allow Alejandra to create a chamber music series for Pilsen Classical, a chamber music collective dedicated to redefining the chamber music concert experience, increasing her visibility as a chamber musician, curator, and social entrepreneur.
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Brittney Bryanna Burgess
Sphinx LEAD
$15,000
The MPower Artist Grant enables me to support the next generation of Black collegiate musicians, healing my younger self while advancing my mission as the co-founder and Executive Director of Black Collegiate Musicians.
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Christopher Johnson
NAAS and/or SOPA
Sphinx Symphony Orchestra (SSO)
Sphinx Virtuosi$10,000
The MPower Artist Grant will provide me with the resources to enhance the quality of my platform, allowing me to stream live shows, engage the audience for donations, and build a community that supports and fairly compensates the artists.
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Dr. Lori Hicks
EXIGENCE Vocal Ensemble
Sphinx LEAD$13,250
With the MPower Artist Grant I’m excited to promote my publications at national and international conferences in the classical music community, and increasing access to key industry professionals, otherwise difficult for a self published author/composer.
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Francesca McNeeley
NAAS and/or SOPA
Sphinx Symphony Orchestra (SSO)$2,200
This MPower Artist Grant is giving me the opportunity to elevate Haiti's rich heritage of classical chamber music by facilitating access to composers, in addition to archival Haitian classical musical databases.
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Jóse Hernandez Romero
NAAS and/or SOPA
$6,500
With the assistance of the MPower Artist Grant, Jóse will be able purchase and utilize the best reed making machines that will produce accurate, consistent, and reliable reeds allowing him to create the very best for his students in the Austin area and beyond.
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Karen Slack
Sphinx Medal of Excellence
$15,000
With this generous MPower Artist Grant I will be able to reach a much larger audience by recording this critically acclaimed evening of song African Queens, expanding my reach as curator and passionate, loyal supporter of young Black composers.
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LaRob K. Rafael
Sphinx LEAD
$10,000
The MPower Artist Grant will be instrumental in advancing equity in classical music by enabling me to create a community-driven space and performing ensemble that elevates the voices and works of Black and Brown artists.
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Lev Mamuya
Sphinx Competition
$2,700
These funds will allow me to fully realize this piece at the scale I envision--fully executing the electronic componentry that will tie together musical ideas that have taken years to develop.
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Mariah C. Forde
Sphinx LEAD
$10,350
The MPower Artist grant will position me to drive representation and inclusion in the media space by supplying critical resources that will support the digital amplification of musicians, educators, and administrator's voices through Celeste Communications.
“Sphinx has had a huge impact on my life. Now the Sphinx MPower Grant will allow me to acquire a fine bass, and put me closer to reaching my ultimate goal, a permanent orchestra position. Sphinx has created a network of support for minority classic musicians that didn’t exist before, and it gives everyone a deeper connection to the music that we all love.”
- Eric Thompson
Double bass, Sphinx Competition alum, MPower Artist Grant Recipient
