Sacramento musician wins NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest

(FOX40.COM) — Sacramento musician Christian Gates, who performs with his band as The Philharmonik, has won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, a competition for independent musicians.

Almost 7,000 artists submitted their individual performances to the competition, which is named after Tiny Desk Concerts, the long-running video series where famous and independent artists perform for small crowds at NPR’s national headquarters.

The winner of the contest gets to do their own Tiny Desk performance and is supported in a nationwide tour.

In a Tuesday morning segment on NPR’s Morning Edition announcing the win, NPR staff commented on the winning entry, a video set in an office setting featuring a performance of the song, “What’s it all mean.”

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Although the contest features video entries, the staff said it was the performance and the soulful feel of the song, as well as the title’s topic that could resonate with many Americans, that made it stand out.

In a prior interview with NPR about the video entry, Gates said “The planning for this was insane…the Sacramento community literally lifted me up to help me see this vision through when I had not a single penny to my name … There was a magic energy filling the space that I can’t explain, but I had a plan … This is a result of amazing teamwork and minds coming together.”

According to NPR, other members of The Philharmonik include Moriah Wenzel (background vocals), Alicia Huff (background vocals), Courtney Miller (drums), Samuel Phelps (bass), Darius Upshaw (guitar), Connor Chavez (guitar), Jimmy Toor (flute) and Jeffery Archie (keys).

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As part of the prize, The Philharmonik will go on a 10-city American tour, which includes two stops in California, to perform with other local Tiny Desk Contest entrants, and mentorship from professional musicians.

The Philharmonik is also set to perform this summer at Concerts in the Park on June 14.

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