Robert Frederick Smith Prize
Robert Frederick Smith Prize supports exceptional young classical string musicians through professional development, recognition, and solo appearances with major orchestras to build classical music careers.
Funder: Sphinx Organization
Due Dates: October 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET (2027 Sphinx Competition application) | January 20–23, 2027 (Competition) | January 23, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. (Senior Division Finals)
Funding Amounts: $50,000 prize awarded annually to the Senior Division first-place winner, plus solo appearances with major orchestras
Summary: The Robert Frederick Smith Prize supports exceptional young classical string musicians through career development resources and recognition at the Sphinx Competition.
Key Information: The prize is awarded through the Sphinx Competition’s Senior Division, for musicians ages 18–30 as of February 1, 2027.
Description
The Robert Frederick Smith Prize is administered by Sphinx Organization and awarded annually to the first-place winner of the Sphinx Competition’s Senior Division. Established in March 2016 through a gift from Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, the prize provides professional development and other vital resources that help young musicians build careers in classical music.
The Sphinx Competition is a national string competition held annually in Detroit, celebrating artistic talent, providing career advancement opportunities, and addressing systemic obstacles within Black and Latino communities. The prize connects competition recognition with support for entering the classical music profession. Finalists perform with the professional Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, and the Senior Division first-place winner also receives solo appearances with major orchestras.
