Pianist Jade Simmons' Achievements Take Her Back to Nation's Capital

March 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Jade Simmons' 2011 ended with a holiday performance at the White House and in early 2013, thanks to the Sphinx Organization, she'll return to perform yet again in our nation's capital at a ceremony where she'll receive the Sphinx Medal of Excellence. On March 20, for the second time in its history, the Sphinx Organization will honor three emerging leaders who demonstrate the following qualities: artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, and great potential for leadership. The 2013 honorees are Jade Simmons, Gabriela Lena Frank and Stanford Thompson. The awards also carry a $5,000 honorarium to further these burgeoning careers.

The Sphinx Organization is a national non-profit founded in 1996 by Aaron P. Dworkin (http://sphinxmusic.org/founder-and-president.html), a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Michigan (B.B. and M.M) and Carrie A. Chester, a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A. in Multicultural Studies and M.A. in Elementary Education). A violinist himself, Mr. Dworkin founded the organization to help overcome the cultural stereotype of classical music, and to encourage the participation of Blacks and Latinos in the field. Ms. Chester currently teaches at Burns Park Elementary in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. She is a strong proponent of public education and actively works to eliminate predictable racial disparities in our schools.

Sphinx is honoring three musicians whose accomplishments distinguish them among musicians of color. Along with Simmons, Composer/Pianist Gabriela Lena Frank and Trumpeter Stanford Thompson will be recognized. The recipients will be honored at a black-tie dinner in Washington D.C. where they will also perform. At last year's event, Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer were among the attendees. Simmons will perform Franz Liszt's Grande Paganini Etude in A Minor (variations) followed by Turkish Pianist/Composer Fazil Say's Paganini Jazz variations.

"Every time I walk on stage, without saying a word, I understand that for many people I'm smashing quite a few stale stereotypes about classical music. I make part of my career talking about the dearth of diversity, in not only ethnicity, but in thought and in presentation, at the highest levels of this field. But to be recognized by an organization that is not only talking about it, but stands as a living, breathing example of what that diversity can look and sound like is truly humbling. I'm honored to now have this association with the Sphinx organization," says Simmons.

Recently, while in Detroit, Jade performed at Orchestra Hall alongside the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra as the culmination of the Finals Concert to their 16th Annual Concerto Competition. An uncommon display of passion and innovation at every turn, pianist Jade Simmons is easily one of the most exciting and versatile artists on the scene today. Jade’s multiple talents make her a true Renaissance woman of the millennium taking her in the direction of arts presenter as founder of the Impulse Artist Series, 2009 winner of Best Non-Profit Arts Series (Houston Press); writer, lecturer and creator of Emerge Already!, a career-building platform for emerging artists including videos, blogs and books. She also writes on arts-related issues for the Huffington Post.

Jade is committed to expanding the boundaries of Classical music and its presentation. In addition to touring stateside and abroad, Simmons' impossibly diverse career includes serving as the webcast host for the 13th Van Cliburn Piano competition (Ft. Worth, TX) and the XIV Tchaikovsky International Competition (St. Petersburg/Moscow). She will return as host of the 2013 Cliburn competition in May.

In light of these achievements, she was listed as one of Ebony magazine’s Top 30 Leaders under 30 (2008) and named Houston’s Best Arts Ambassador by the Houston Press. Essence magazine featured her alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas as a part of their Style & Substance list highlighting women who have expanded the definition of beauty and achievement. Recently, she was named "Classical music's No.1 Maverick" by renowned arts journalist and critic Greg Sandow.

Visit Jade Media to see Jade's February performance with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra. http://jademedia.org/watch-jade-simmons-performance-with-...

Read more about the Sphinx Organization and their Medals of Excellence at http://www.sphinxmusic.org/sphinx-medals-of-excellence.html