Interview with Sterling Elliott and Randall Goosby: the Role of Sphinx

By Samuel Thompson: During January’s gathering for the Sphinx Competition in Detroit, I had the opportunity to speak with two highly successful young artists - violinist Randall Goosby and cellist Sterling Elliott - both of whom are first-prize laureates of previous Sphinx competitions. As Sphinx’s programs are crafted to provide long-term career support to those involved, it was incredibly enlightening to speak with these two young men. Not only do they both have long and fruitful associations with Sphinx, but they both have gained wide recognition for their artistry and commitment to the issues of diversity and inclusion in the arts. How did Sphinx help shape them? And in turn, how are they helping shape Sphinx? Since its inaugural competition in 1998, the Sphinx Organization has played a vital role in advancing the careers of many musicians and arts leaders. Alumni of Sphinx’s myriad programs can be heard as soloists and members of orchestras worldwide, experienced as dynamic educators who actively shape the lives of the next generations of musicians and concertgoers, and active both as administrators and thought leaders working on the front lines to create meaningful change in arts institutions. After winning first prize at the Sphinx Competition's junior division in 2010, Goosby’s involvement with the Sphinx Organization came full circle this year, as he was featured as both a session panelist and a competition judge. "It’s been an honor, first of all, to have been a part of Sphinx and the Sphinx familia for this long time. I'm never shy about giving credit where credit is due, in terms of Sphinx really shaping my perception of what the bigger picture is and what the real meaning is behind what it is that I do," he told me. "Being on the jury, when it came time for all the semifinalists to come back on stage and for us to announce the three finalists, I started feeling the same nervousness as I did while waiting for my name to be called [in 2010]." Taking a compassionate perspective, Randall added that "as a jury member, you really care and wish nothing but the utmost success for all of these incredibly talented young artists. Being in the position to say that only a select number of contestants could advance was bittersweet for sure."

Cellist Elliott Sterling and violinist Randall Goosby, at this year's Sphinx Competition.

Randall made his debut as soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony at the age of nine and his New York Philharmonic debut at the age of 13. It was also at thirteen that Randall became the youngest winner of the Sphinx Competition’s junior division. Since then, he captured first prize in the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, was named the inaugural Robey Artist by Young Classical Artists Trust in partnership with Music Masters in London, and was awarded a 2022 Avery Fisher Prize Grant. Signed exclusively to Decca Classics, his recent recording of Florence Price’s violin concerti was met with significant praise from Gramophone Magazine.BELOW: Randall Goosby and pianist Zhu Wang perform Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 - "The Bridgetower," aka, "the Kreutzer." Cellist Sterling Elliott sees Randall as a trailblazer. "We’ve been closely musically tied together for quite some time," Sterling said. "I watched him play in that performance when he was 13. My brother Brendan was competing that year, and I was just so star-struck to see someone walking into the competition for the very first time and winning." Regarding the parallels between them, Sterling shared that "concerning the soloist path that I’m on, Randall has really been completely shattering the barriers by just kicking open the doors and walking so confidently. It is truly an honor to be walking very closely behind him and, at times, side by side." Having already appeared with major orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony, Sterling won the 2014 Junior Division Competition, making him the first alumnus of the Sphinx Performance Academy to win the Sphinx Competition. Since then he has toured with the Sphinx Virtuosi, captured first prize in the 2019 Senior Division Competition, and was recently named a 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence honoree. BELOW: A really stunning performance from 2021- Sterling Elliott performs Tchaikovsky’s "Rococo Variations" with the Northwest Sinfonietta. In addition to their parallels through Sphinx, Sterling and Randall have shared specific achievements. Sterling was an Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient in 2021, and recently became a Young Classical Artist Trust-Music Masters Robey Artist. Sterling credits many people for inspiring him to follow this path, including his Sphinx Performance Academy mentors Mary Ann Ramos and Catalyst Quartet cellist Karlos Rodriguez. Coming from a musical family, Sterling also credits his brother (violinist Brendan Elliott) as an inspiration, and his mother for instilling an early sense of discipline. "While the original goal was not specifically for us to go to conservatory or attend festivals, regular practicing as a lifestyle was something that we normally did," Sterling said. Goosby started playing the violin at an early age, and credits his mother for instilling the discipline of structured practicing as well. "Not only how long, but also what I needed to practice," he shared. "This was not at the expense of having typical childhood experiences, but those things always came after practicing." Even with that, however, it was not until after participating in the 2010 competition that he decided to pursue a career in music. "Sphinx really sets itself apart amongst competitions, in that it encourages a familial environment, allowing the participants to know each other and exchange ideas," Goosby said. "That really set things in motion for me, in terms of finding that sense of community. It was during my time at the Perlman Music Program that I really settled into that." "As far as chasing a solo career, that is something that - at the time unbeknownst to me - I was being conditioned for," Randall said. It was through his time studying with Philippe Quint (who suggested that Randall study with Mr. Perlman) and his seven years closely working with Mr. Perlman that Randall gained tremendous insight on the realities of the soloist’s life, as well as the spirituality of music-making. Even with continuously expanding careers and a slate of upcoming projects, both Randall and Sterling have maintained their respect for the community spirit created by Sphinx, and they carry that into their work with younger generations. "It has been so fulfilling to go into places where classical music is not a part of the culture, and to see so many light bulbs go off in audiences filled with children who may not otherwise gain the understanding that this is not only a viable career path, but also something that can be enjoyed and used as a tool for self-development," Randall said. Sterling's association with Sphinx has come full circle as well: after being the first Sphinx Performance Academy participant to win the competitions, Sterling is now a Sphinx Performance Academy faculty member. From his early experiences, through the Elliott Family Workshop, to now teaching at the Sphinx Performance Academy, and through the Robey Artist program, Sterling has continued working with students. "I hope that my work with the younger generation results in opening their minds to just how far and how varied their involvement with music can be." You might also like:

• Interview with Nathan Amaral, Winner of the 2024 Sphinx Competition
• Interview with Violinist Randall Goosby: 'Roots' and African-American Music
• Interview with Violinist Njioma Grevious, Winner of the 2023 Sphinx Competition

* * *

Enjoying Violinist.com? Click here to sign up for our free, bi-weekly email newsletter. And if you've already signed up, please invite your friends! Thank you.