“The Black Violin Experience Tour” comes to Overture Hall in Madison on Thursday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste of Black Violin bring their blend of classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes and break down cultural barriers.
“The Black Violin Experience Tour” showcases the two-time Grammy Award-nominated duo Black Violin as they perform a unique musical fusion of classical sounds and hip-hop beats. On stage, Kev Marcus gives a violin performance while Wil Baptiste delivers a viola and vocal performance. (The duo is joined by Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on the turntable and Liston Gregory on keys.) “The Black Violin Experience Tour” will play at Overture Hall in Madison on March 2.
Black Violin plays around 200 shows a year, many of which are performances for young, low-income students. In the last year alone, the group has played for more than 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 Baptiste, in a press release. “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 founded the Black Violin Foundation Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth by providing access to quality music programs in their community. Black Violin Foundation’s inaugural program, The Musical Innovation Grant for Continuing Education, provide scholarships to young music students to attend a program of their liking that fosters musical creativity and innovation.
Tickets for “The Black Violin Experience Tour” at Overture Center range from $30 to $65 and are available at overture.org.
Photo Credit: Mark Clennon