Clayton Penrose-Whitmore began studying the violin at 4 years old, and by the time he was 9, he had made his orchestral solo debut.
Now 15 years old, Penrose-Whitmore continues to be a prized violinist, playing at some of the nation's most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall.
He was in Chicago recently, performing at The Harris Theatre when the theater and the Chicago Sinfonietta presented Detroit’s Sphinx Chamber Orchestra. During Saturday’s concert, Penrose-Whitmore performed Antonio Vivaldi’s "Concerto for 4 Violins" as a soloist, as well as "Orchestra in B Minor" with Ilnor Gavilan, Melissa White, Miquel Hernandez and Desmond Neysmith.
The Sphinx Chamber Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of the top alumni of the national Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players. Inspired by Sphinx’s mission to encourage Blacks and Latinos in music school, as professional musicians and as classical music audiences, SCO works to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through performances of varied repertoires.
Penrose-Whitmore was the youngest violinist and musician to advance to the finals in the Sphinx Competition in 2006 at age 12. This year, the violinist captured first place in the junior division of the annual competition.
He has won many awards, including the 2005 Marie Stillwell Young Artists Competition, the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony Concerto and the grand-prize in the Jacksonville Symphony Guild’s “Talent Among Us” competition in 2003.
“Clayton is one of the most gifted young musicians my husband, Roland, have had the opportunity to teach. He learns swiftly and assured me that he would be able to perform for the Chicago Music Association on Sunday, November 16 if his schedule permits,” Almita Vamos, one of Penrose-Whitmore’s instructors, said.
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