For 16 years, Black Violin members
Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste have been merging string arrangements
with modern beats and vocals. The two met in orchestra class at Dillard High
School in Ft. Lauderdale, becoming classically trained on the violin and viola
through their high school and college careers. Post-college, they reconvened to
produce beats for South Florida rappers, and began building an audience in
local clubs. They later went on to win Showtime at the Apollo in
2005, and eventually sold-out headline performances at venues across the
country, including a sold out two-night headline run at The Kennedy Center in
2018. Their unique brand of merging the genre they were listening to (hip hop)
with the world they were studying (classical) was celebrated with
collaborations with Alicia Keys, Wu Tang Clan, 2 Chainz and others. NPR took
note and declared “their music will keep classical music alive for the next
generation.” UPROXX also featured Black Violin in a mini-documentary as part of
their “Uncharted” series, watch the video HERE.
The duo plays over 200 shows a year (many of these are performances for young
low-income students in urban communities - with the goal of challenging
stereotypes and preconceived notions of what a “classical musician” looks and
sounds like. “The stereotypes are always there, embedded so deep in our
culture,” says Wil. “Just by nature of our existence we challenge those
ideas. It’s a unique thing that brings people together who aren’t usually in
the same room, and in the current climate, it’s good to bring people together.”
Recently, the group launched the Black Violin Foundation Inc., a
non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by providing access to
quality music programs in their community. BVF believes that music and access
to music programs should not be determined by race, gender, or socio-economic
status. Black Violin Foundation’s inaugural program the Musical Innovation
Grant for Continuing Education will provide scholarships to young music
students to attend a program of their liking that fosters musical creativity
and innovation. Programs can range from private lessons, to summer music camps,
to college courses. Scholarships will be awarded bi-annually to up to 20
applicants per scholarship cycle. For more information click HERE!
The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First
Credit Union. For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the
Theatre’s official website, floridatheatre.com.
“Black
Violin”
DATE: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
TIME: 8 p.m.
TICKETS: $39.50 – $49.50
LOCATION: The Florida Theatre
128
East Forsyth Street.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 355 - ARTS (2787)
