Help Sofia Shine at the National Sphinx Competition!

Hi everyone!

We’re thrilled to share some incredible news: 11-year-old Sofia Hernandez-Williams, a talented young cellist from Worcester and a dedicated student at the Joy of Music Program (JOMP) and Boston's Project STEP, has advanced to the semi-finals of the prestigious Sphinx Competition!

The Sphinx Competition is a BIG deal—it celebrates and supports talented young Black and Latino string players from across the country. Sofia is the youngest of just nine semi-finalists in the Junior Division, and her incredible accomplishment was even highlighted in The Strad, a renowned international magazine for string musicians!

But here’s where we need your help: Sofia has poured countless hours into her practice, pushing herself to master challenging repertoire. To perform her best at this national stage, Sofia needs a new 3/4-size cello bow—one that matches her skill level and supports the demanding pieces she’ll be playing for the jury in January.

Sofia has some prize money saved from her recent competitions and performances, but we hope to raise enough funds here to cover her new bow and travel expenses without depleting her savings. Sofia dreams of using her savings to one day purchase a full-size cello bow, which she’ll need as she continues to grow as a musician.

In case you’re learning about Sofia for the first time, we’d love for you to check out her YouTube video and read her bio below.

By contributing, you’re not just helping Sofia—you’re investing in her future as a musician and supporting the next generation of diverse talent in classical music. Your donation will help Sofia make her dream a reality!

Every little bit helps, and we’re so grateful for your generosity. Please share this page with your friends and family to spread the word!

Thank you for supporting Sofia on this exciting journey!

Sofia Hernandez-Williams is 11 years old and a cello student of Timothy Terranella at Worcester’s Joy of Music Program. When she’s not playing her cello, Sofia can be found doing math, gardening, writing a story, practicing piano and voice, or tinkering around with her dad’s violin-making tools.

Since beginning formal lessons at age 6, Sofia has had the privilege of attending summer music festivals at Rivers Conservatory, Groton Hill Music, and Joy of Music. This summer, she attended Greenwood Music Camp in Western Mass, and spent a week in Vienna, Austria studying with Dr. Anzel Gerber at the historic Musikverein concert hall.

Sofia is a member of the Repertory Orchestra at Boston Youth Symphonies, and serves as principal cello with the Joy of Music Youth Orchestra (JYO), with whom she performed as soloist in February 2024. She was awarded Second Place in the 2022 Music Worcester Young Artist Competition, Junior Division, and First Prize - Elementary Division in the 2023 Richter String Competition at Rivers Conservatory. She also received an Honorable Mention at this year’s Lowell Philharmonic Concerto Competition.

In May of 2024, Sofia gave her debut performance of the complete Haydn C Major Cello Concerto as soloist with Worcester’s Seven Hills Symphony under the baton of Juli Sansoucy. Sofia gave a repeat performance of the Haydn Concerto with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra in July 2024 at Worcester’s Institute Park. Her Boston debut is slated for January 26, 2025 as soloist with the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, with whom she has been invited to perform the last movement of Haydn C for their “Musical Super Heroes” concert.

Sofia is a 4th-year student at Boston’s Project STEP, Class of 2032.