Sheri Masters Christian Grayâs love of music is intertwined with his love for the people heâs had the opportunity to play with. Winston-Salem native Gray now plays in the double bass section of the Washington National Opera. âThe musician friends I made growing up in Winston-Salem built my passion for music,â he says. âThose are still some of my closest relationships.â These relationships were a key part of Grayâs recent success in the senior division of the 2021 Sphinx Competition. The competition is held annually by the Sphinx Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to developing young Black and Latino classical musicians.