Changing The Stereotype Of Classical Music

Aaron Dworkin is a rarity in the classical music world: he's a black violinist.

Fifteen years ago, he founded the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based nonprofit group that tries to increase racial and ethnic diversity in classical music. It especially wants to encourage African-Americans and Latinos to get into the field, and to develop musical talent in children.

Since its founding, the Sphinx Organization has worked with more than 85,000 students in about 175 schools nationwide, and the number of minority musicians in U.S. orchestras has doubled — an increase Dworkin believes is due in part to his group's work.

Dworkin visited Boston Friday to receive a teaching award from Harvard, and WBUR's All Things Considered host Sacha Pfeiffer spoke with him about his efforts to change the perception of classical music.