National Council on the Arts Members

Aaron P. Dworkin (Ypsilanti, MI)

Aaron P. Dworkin is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization. An accomplished electric and acoustic violinist, he received his Bachelors and Masters of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, graduating with high honors. He previously attended the Peabody Institute, the Philadelphia New School and the Interlochen Arts Academy and has studied with Vladimir Graffman, Berl Senofsky, Jascha Brodsky, John Eaken, Renata Knific, Donald Hopkins and Stephen Shipps. Additionally, Mr. Dworkin studied piano with Robert Alexander Böhnke in Tübingen, Germany.

Named a 2005 MacArthur Fellow, Mr. Dworkin is the recipient of Harvard University's Vosgerchian Teaching Award, National Governors Association 2005 Distinguished Service to State Government Award, Detroit Symphony's 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, 2003 Michiganian of the Year, Crain's 40 Under 40 and Who's Who Awards, BET's History Makers in the Making Award, AT&T Excellence in Education Award, University of Michigan's African-American Alumni Council's 5 Under 10 Award, "Entrepreneur Of The Year" award by the National Black MBA Association-Detroit Chapter, and Interlochen Arts Academy's 2003 Path of Inspiration Award.

A passionate advocate for excellence in music education and diversity in the performing arts, Mr. Dworkin has been a frequent keynote speaker and lecturer at numerous national conferences including the Aspen Ideas Conference, the League of American Orchestras, and Americans for the Arts, among several other conferences. He serves on several boards, including the League of American Orchestras, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation, and WRCJ 90.9 Detroit Classical and Jazz Radio.

Mr. Dworkin authored an autobiographical poetry collection, They Said I Wasn't Really Black as well as a children's book, The 1st Adventure of Chilli Pepperz. His writings have been featured in Symphony Magazine, Polyphonic.org, Andante, an online music industry magazine, and others. Mr. Dworkin founded and served as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Bard, a literary magazine with a readership of over 40,000 throughout southeast Michigan. His memoir titled Uncommon Rhythm: A Black, White, Jewish, Jehovah's Witness, Irish Catholic Adoptee's Journey to Leadership was recently released through Aquarius Press.

National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20506