Black Violin: The Experience Tour

This February, the classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin embarked on “The Black Violin Experience Tour” across the US. The tour follows their recent GRAMMY nomination for “The Message,” a collaboration with Blind Boys of Alabama. The song is up for Best Americana Performance at the 65th GRAMMYs, marking the duo’s second GRAMMY nomination after their 2019 album Take The Stairs was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. In the past few years, Black Violin has been interviewed by PBS Newshour, Morning Edition, CBC’s Q, 1A, MSNBC, Here & Now, CBS This Morning, CNN, and many more.

For nearly two decades, Black Violin has been merging string arrangements with modern beats and vocals and building bridges in communities along the way. Members Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste first met in orchestra class at Dillard High School in Fort 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. NPR took note and declared “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.”

Black Violin plays roughly 200 shows a year; many of which are performances for young, low-income students in urban communities. In the last year alone, the group has played for over 100,000 students 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.”

In 2019, 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.

With support from DAMOYEE

The Black Violin VIP Soundcheck Experience

• One Premium Reserved ticket in the first five (5) rows – OR – General Admission ticket to see Black Violin live (varies by show)
• Invitation to a private pre-show experience including:
• Access to view a portion of soundcheck
• Moderated Q&A
• Photo opportunity with Kev and Wil
• VIP access to the merchandise booth and a 20% discount on any available item
• Commemorative VIP laminate
• Early entry to the venue

Black Violin is donating a portion of their ticket sales to The Black Violin Foundation Inc.

(BVF) is a non profit 501 c3 organization dedicated to empowering youth by working with them in their communities to provide access to quality music programs that encourage creativity. Your donation helps support the organization’s long term goal to empower youth to color outside of the lines and push the boundaries of music through innovation. For more information visit https://www.blackviolinfoundation.org/