Sacramento’s ‘One-Man Orchestra’ The Philharmonik Wins Spot on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert

By Williamena Kwapo | OBSERVER Staff Writer Local artist, The Philharmonik, performs at The Torch Club in Sacramento following his winning NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Roberta Alvarado, OBSERVER Sacramento native Christian Gates, better known by his stage name “The Philharmonik,” decided to give his music career one last shot after years of feeling stagnant. That decision has propelled him to the national stage after winning NPR’s prestigious Tiny Desk Contest. For The Philharmonik, this victory is more than just a career milestone; it’s a testament to perseverance and the transformative power of music. The NPR Tiny Desk Contest, launched in 2015, is an annual competition aimed at discovering and showcasing talented independent musicians from across the United States. Contestants submit videos performing an original song at a desk, paying homage to the series. Winners are chosen by a panel of NPR Music judges and receive the opportunity to perform their own Tiny Desk Concert. With almost 7,000 entries in this year’s contest, The Philharmonik rose as the winner with his song “What Does It All Mean.”& The journey to becoming a successful musician has been anything but easy and the song is a representation of some of his most difficult...