Named one of Musical America’s Top 30 Influencers and Detroit Crain’s 40 Under 40, Afa Sadykhly Dworkin is a musical thought leader and cross-sector strategist driving national programming that promotes diversity in classical music. She currently serves as President and Artistic Director of the Sphinx Organization, the nation’s leading organization transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. During her tenure, Ms. Dworkin has expanded the organization’s international partner network to 50+ foundations and leading enterprises, resulting in the most successful fundraising campaign of its twenty-year history.
Beyond her work at Sphinx, Ms. Dworkin serves the field as a multi-year orchestra grant review panelist for the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, 3Arts Awards, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and The League of American Orchestras. She also serves as a trustee for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Creative Many Michigan and CultureSource. Ms. Dworkin has also delivered ongoing thought leadership through an extensive roster of speaking engagements and teaching appointments including those at the International Arts & Ideas Festival, Independent Sector, Grantmakers in the Arts, Chamber Music America, ICSOM, Roosevelt University, Clarkston Conservatory of Music, University of Michigan and Bowling Green State University.
Born in Moscow, Ms. Dworkin’s music training began with the prestigious Russian violin training and culminated at the University of Michigan School of Music where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Violin Performance with High Honors.