Led by violist Wil B. and violinist Kev Marcus, Black Violin blends classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes. The classically trained strings players are joined onstage by DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes in a high-energy concert that encourages people of all backgrounds to come together to break down cultural barriers. Black Violin has collaborated with artists such as Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys. The band was featured by ESPN as the official artist of the 2017 U.S. Tennis Open as well as the 2016 and 2017 Heisman Trophy Award ceremonies. The group has appeared on "The Tonight Show," "Ellen," "The Wendy Williams Show," NPR and more. Black Violin's most recent album, "Stereotypes," hit No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart and No. 4 on Billboard's R&B chart. Black Violin, alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Elton John, recently joined with Turnaround Arts to bring arts education to struggling schools in underserved communities. Turnaround Arts is a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts founded by President Obama's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2012. UGA Presents is bringing Black Violin to the University of Georgia March 7 for a 7:30 p.m. performance in Hodgson Concert Hall. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #4d4d4d; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL Online Athens ARTICLE

Black Violin is bringing its Classical Boom Tour to the Collar City tonight, following another local students-only performance earlier this week. On Monday the Florida-based duo, known for its unique blend of pop and classical music, performed a high-energy set to about 2,000 students at Saratoga Springs High School as part of Saratoga Performing Arts Center's education program. Today, Friday April 13, members Wil B. and Kev Marcus will be back in the Capital Region for a public performance at the famed Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. For now, Black Violin is busy touring the U.S. and Europe. In addition to the local appearances this week, the group will be back in the Spa City this summer, performing to a sold-out crowd as part of the intimate SPAC on Stage series. As displayed at the recent Saratoga Springs High School show, Black Violin place heavy emphasis on educational outreach. In the past year alone, the duo has played for nearly 100,000 students and more than 125 public shows across the U.S. and Europe. For tonight's Troy appearance, members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra will play with the duo during the evening performance. Additionally, any student who purchases a ticket is invited to attend the 5 p.m. sound check before the evening performance.  Troy Savings Bank Music Hall executive director Jon Elbaum said the venue is very excited about bringing Black Violin back to the Music Hall. "Their performance here last year was amazing. I've never seen an audience so enthusiastic – I knew at the end of that show that we had to have them back," he said. "Their unique blend of classical and hip hop really connects with younger fans and that's really inspiring." Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, feels the same. "We were ecstatic to share the incredible talent of Black Violin with the entire student body of Saratoga Springs High School for an immersive and inspiring concert experience." READ THE FULL Troy Record ARTICLE

"Inspiring," "uplifting," and "proud" were frequent words that came to the lips of the polled patrons following Friday evening's concert of Black Violin on the Strauss Square stage in the Dallas Arts District, presented by AT&T Performing Arts Center. The classical/hip-hop crossover act brought a large and diverse crowd with an unusual start time of 9:45 p.m., allowing some of the more eclectically inclined patrons of the Dallas Symphony to head next door to the outdoor pavilion after a traditional program of dead white men's transcendent masterpieces. There, they were treated to a 90 minute eclectic set of "Bach meets Biggie," as Black Violin's Kev Marcus called it, with a heart-warming surprise at the end. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL TheaterJones REVIEW

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} Black Violin is composed of classically trained violist and violinist Wil B. and Kev Marcus who combine their classical training and and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as "classical boom." The band released their major label debut Stereotypes (featuring Black Thought of The Roots and MC Pharoahe Monch) on Universal Music which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and #4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. Black Violin has shared stages with top names including Kanye West, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and has creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys. Wil and Kev place heavy emphasis on educational outreach, and have performed for more than 100,000 students in North America and Europe in the past 12 months, including the featured musical act for the Blue Ribbon Festival at the Music Center in Los Angeles, CA where they performed for 19,000 fifth grade students from the Greater Los Angeles area over a 3 day period. The band is endorsed by Yamaha Music, and has partnered with the National Association for Music Manufacturers (NAMM) to continue their advocacy for accessible music education. Black Violin is set for Dallas ATTPAC next Friday, March 9.

Named after an album by swing era violinist Stuff Smith, Black Violin is a violin and viola-playing duo from Florida consisting of classically trained musicians Kevin Sylvester ("Kev Marcus") and Wilner Baptiste ("Wil B"), who incorporate a variety of genres into their distinctive string fare. The pair met as high-school students in a Fort Lauderdale, quickly gaining a reputation for their dynamic performance style. After receiving national exposure with Alicia Keys at the 2004 Billboard Awards and winning the talent show Showtime at the Apollo in 2005, they signed with Universal Music Classics, which released their third LP, Stereotypes, in 2015. You've never heard "Sweet Georgia Brown" like this! Thanks to Black Violin and the Harlem Globetrotters for this collaboration. Watch the attached video p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060}

Defying ‘StereoTypes' is in the DNA of the hip-hop inspired classically trained duo called Black Violin, it was also the title of their major label debut. Wil B. and Kev Marcus combine their classical training as a violist and violinist with hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as "classical boom." North Dallas Gazette readers have an opportunity to win tickets for two to enjoy their performance in person on Friday, March 9 at 9:45 p.m. at Annette Strauss Square. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px}   p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px}

Black Violin, the astonishing  Atlanta-based duo - Wil Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester will be appearing this Monday Jan 22, at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center - a performance being taped for future telecast by Connecticut Public Television. Both musicians are now violin virtuosos whose affection for and mastery of classical repertoire is substantial. At the same time, their love of rap has always been there, and their melding of two styles is something wonderful and utterly distinctive. Since springing to national success through 2005 triumphs on "Showtime at the Apollo," Black Violin has toured steadily and built a global and cross-cultural fan base. Albums like the recent "Stereotypes" are both timely and buoyantly infectious, and BV has also worked with a variety of artists ranging from Wu Tang Clan and Alicia Keyes to Aerosmith and Tom Petty. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Classical music can have an elitist reputation. The conventional repertoire is based almost exclusively on the work of western European white men, and the typical audiences for those works are largely older, and also white. But the duo Black Violin (Violinist Kev Sylvester and violist Wil Baptiste) thinks the music of Bach is sublime and want to bring it to people who might not otherwise hear it. They're both classically trained and they've spent the last 13 years forging a distinctive sound that mixes the three B's of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms over the heavy beats and rhythm change-ups of hip-hop. The pair are set to play Milwaukee's Marcus Center this Saturday Oct. 28. LISTEN TO WUWM - Lake Effect SEGMENT p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

They say most people assume they are football players, but their true love is the violin. The world renowned duo "Black Violin" is bringing people together through music, combining classical violin with the excitement and fun of hip hop. Performer Will B. Baptiste says their message is all about positivity. "With what's going on in our country, our shows are very diverse, very inclusive so our music does all the talking." Black Violin will perform for audiences in Denver on Thursday, September 28 and Friday September 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Newman Center for Performing Arts on the University of Denver campus and in Ft. Collins on September 30. Black Violin will also hold a special matinee performance for DPS students on Friday, September 29. "It's the ultimate gift, to be able to do something you truly love that you would do for free anyway and by doing so you have kids who are inspired,"  Baptiste said. READ THE FUL FOX 31 - Denver ARTICLE & WATCH THE VIDEO p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

Black Violin recently kicked off their Classical Boom tour, which takes it's name from the phrase used to describe the group's unique blend of classical music with hip-hop beats and rhythms. Black Violin are touring in support of their latest album Stereotypes, however, the duo said in a statement that they are currently working on their next studio album set for release in 2018.  Here are the 2017-18 Black Violin Classical Boom tour dates: August 21 - Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center August 23 - Oaks Bluff, MA - Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center  August 25 - Bethlehem, PA - Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks September 21 - Dubuque, IA - Heritage Center September 22 - Lawrence, KS - Lied Center of Kansas September 23 - Springfield, IL - Sangamon Auditorium September 24 - St. Louis, MO - Sheldon Theater September 26 - Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center (Get Tickets)  September 27 - Durango, CO - Fort Lewis College September 28 & 29 - Denver, CO - Newman Center for the Performing Arts  September 30 - Fort Collins, CO - The Lincoln Center October 10 - Williamsport, PA - Community Arts Center October 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts  October 12 - Rochester, NY - Nazareth College Arts Center October 13 - Pittsburgh, PA - Byham Theater October 14 - Springfield, OH - Clark State Performing Arts Center October 15 - Newark, OH - Midland Theatre October 17 - Cincinnati, OH - Aronoff Center for the Arts October 19 - Elmira, NY - Clemens Center October 20 - Jamestown, NY - The Reg Lenna Center for the Arts October 26 - Fort Wayne, IN - Embassy Theatre October 28 - Milwaukee, WI - Marcus Center for the Performing Arts  November 3 - Purchase, NY - The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College  November 4 - York, PA - Appell Center for the Performing Arts November 8 - Indiana, PA - IUP Performing Arts Center November 10 - Bethesda, MD - Strathmore Music Center November 12 - Chicago, IL - City Winery Chicago November 17 - St. Paul, MN - Ordway Center for the Performing Arts  December 5 - Los Angeles, CA - The Theater at Ace Hotel (Get Tickets) Jan. 25 - Ft Lauderdale, Fl - Broward Center For The Performing Arts Jan. 27 - St. Augustine, Fl - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall (Get Tickets) Jan. 31 - Tampa, Fl - Straz Center For The Arts     Feb. 10 - Avon Park, Fl - South Florida Community College     Feb. 16 - Carmel-by-the-sea, Ca - Sunset Center     Feb. 17 - Lancaster, Ca - Cal Poly Arts – Christopher Cohan Center     Feb. 18 - Orange, Ca - Musco Center     Feb. 21 - Lancaster, Ca - Lancaster Performing Arts Center     Feb. 22 - Escondido, Ca - California Center For The Arts     Feb. 23 - Chandler, Az    Chandler Center For The Arts     Feb. 26 - Logan, Ut - Cache Valley Center For The Arts     Feb. 27 - Salt Lake City, Ut - Kingsbury Hall, University Of Utah     March 1 - Santa Fe, Nm - The Lensic Performing Arts Center     April 4 - Washington, Dc - Kennedy Center Concert Hall     April 12 - New Brunswick, Nj - State Theatre New Jersey     April 19 - Richmond, Ky - Eastern Kentucky University Center     April 20 - Boone, Nc - Appalachian State University     May 2 - Cedar Falls, Ia - Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center     May 3 - Madison, Wi - Overture Center – Capitol Theater     May 4 - Kalamazoo, Mi - Miller Auditorium     May 5 - Flint, Mi - The Whiting     p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} Aug. 21 - Oak Bluffs, Ma - Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center SEE THE axs PAGE

Wilner Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester never intended to be headliners. Though they're scheduled to raise the roof of the Performing Arts Center next Wednesday, the duo, who are known on stage as Black Violin, originally hoped to achieve fame behind the scenes. "We just started dreaming, you know, just thinking of ourselves as major producers," Mr. Baptiste said in a phone call with the Gazette. "And we were huge fans of hip hop at the time, with major producers like Timbaland and The Neptunes, so that was the goal." p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} READ THE FULL Vineyard Gazette ARTICLE

Black Violin have been perfecting their blend of hip-hop beats, with classical music instrumentation for ever a decade, but the group's founding members go back even further. Violist Wil B met violinist Kev Marcus while both were attending the Dillard High School of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The pair's unique musical bond has been growing exponentially over the years. To date Black Violin have racked up three album releases, and collaborations with artists ranging from Kanye West to Alicia Keys.  Beyond purely musical concerns, Black Violin are on a mission to amend misguided stereotypes about classical music, hip-hop and race. That agenda has pushed the group into a heavy schedule of educational outreach, and Black Violin have performed for more than 100,000 students in North America and Europe over the past twelve months. And it's educational outreach that brings Black Violin to Indiana this summer, they'll be performing Thursday, June 29th at Muncie's Emens Auditorium for the Music for All Summer Symposium.     NUVO spoke to Black Violin's Wil B in advance of that Muncie date. READ THE Q&A p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

The cool breeze off the Potomac River convinced the crowds at this year's D.C. Jazz Festival from June 9-18 to dance – even as the temperatures crossed 90 degrees – as soon as "Kev Marcus" Sylvester and Wilmer Baptiste hit the stage.  Known as Black Violin, Sylvester and Baptiste have found and perfected a meticulous mix of classical music with hip-hop, as well as jazz, soul, R&B, rock and pop. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. natives met at performing arts high school Dillard High School, where they impressed classmates by playing popular hip-hop songs on their instruments – Sylvester on violin; Baptiste on viola.  More than a decade later, they continue to insist they are hip-hop first, before classical. READ THE FULL AFRO REVIEW p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

Due to popular demand, the Lied Center is bringing back a favorite on Friday, September 22, 2017. "Black Violin was absolutely amazing last night!!! They filled up the Lied auditorium and captivated the audience with their talent and charm. A truly inspiring group of young men breaking stereotypes and proving that one can do anything once they put their minds to it," said a Lied Center patron after their 2015 performance. Black Violin blends classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B and bluegrass music. Live, they are accompanied by their incredible band, featuring ace turntable whiz DJ SPS and a drummer. Named one of the hottest bands at South by Southwest in 2013, Black Violin was invited to perform at Bonnaroo and returned to SXSW to standing-room-only crowds.  SEE Kansas Public Radio PAGE

Black Violin performed two sold out shows at Berklee's Red Room at Café 939 on Saturday, April 22nd. They are currently on their "Unity" tour where the duo is joined by a drummer and DJ SPS. I could clearly see Black Violin's message at work by taking a look at the audience. The diversity in age and ethnicity was evident and everyone was excited about what was to come. The show started with DJ SPS playing an "Are You Ready" sample and the drummer hyping up the crowd before Kev Marcus and Wil B made their way to the stage. Following their intro, Kev Marcus and Will B. immediately got into trading fast runs over a hip-hop beat. READ THE FULL Berklee Groove REVIEW p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Black Violin's Kev Marcus, left, warned the sold-out UA Presents audience Thursday night that they were in for more than a night of violin music. He and violist Wil B had the Fox Tucson Theatre audience on its feet. "Some of you thought you were coming to a quiet evening of violin music," said Marcus - aka Kevin Sylvester - and a handful of people who knew better cheered along as if they were in on the joke. "A Black Violin concert is a party!" he hollered and big chunks of the UA Presents audience - many of them, judging by their grey and white hair, looked to be on the north side of 60 - politely clapped. Three songs later, many of those older folks got on their feet, pumped their fists in the air and rocked out. That was not supposed to happen at a concert billed as "classical." READ THE FULL Arizona Daily Star REVIEW p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

It's not every night that you get to hear a hip-hop DJ go to town on Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons." That was just one of the highlights of the performance by Black Violin, a combo rooted in classical music that shattered boundaries in its concert Friday at Casa Mañana. The band is made up of Kev Marcus on electric violin, Wil B. playing a viola equipped with a pickup, drummer Jermaine McQueen and DJ Dwayne Dayal. And their collective efforts at Casa demonstrated a fresh and open approach to music that blends old genres with current forms to fabulous effect. "We are about breaking stereotypes," Marcus told the large and enthusiastic crowd of about 700.   READ THE FULL Fort Worth Star Telegram REVIEW  

Black Violin's performance Thursday night at the Alberta Bair Theater had a wildly enthusiastic crowd on their feet, pumping arms in the air by the second song. The two lead musicians, Kev Marcus on electric violin and Will-B on viola, rocked to hard, it was like they were blazing on electric guitars with flames shooting from them. A highlight was the improvisation where Marcus sawed back and forth on his electric violin with such inventive rhythm that you never wanted it to end. He prefaced the moment by announcing to the crowd, "This is the part of the show where we start making things up." The dynamics of the four-piece project includes DJ TK and a talented drummer. JACI WEBB  photo READ THE FULL Billings Gazette REVIEW p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Billings will be welcoming a unique musical duo Black Violin, to the Alberta Bair Theater next Thursday. The high-energy group is anything but common, and bridges the divide between hip-hop and classical music. The Miami Herald says the musical duo Black Violin "upends cultural and musical stereotypes," and these classically-trained string musicians will bring their inventive style to Billings next week "Like violins are not typically known as high energy shows. You typically go to a classical concert and it's engaging but we…It's almost like going to a rock concert to go to a Black Violin concert but instead of guitars there are violins," said Will Baptiste of Black Violin. Black Violin is in the midst of their 30-city UNITY Tour.  LISTEN TO THE Yellowstone Public Radio SEGMENT p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

When Kevin "Kev Marcus" Sylvester picked up a violin, it was hardly love at first sight. Sylvester is the violin-playing half of the classical-meets-hip-hop duo Black Violin, playing Tuesday in Olympia. As many young musicians do, he started on the violin at his mom's suggestion. He liked playing well enough and liked the friends he made in orchestra, but he didn't imagine making music his career. "I hadn't fallen in love with it," he said in a recent phone interview. "It was just something that I did." He kept on doing it, successfully enough to win a full scholarship to Florida International University. It was then he and high school friend Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste, now Black Violin's violist, begin experimenting with adding hip-hop to music they were making. "When I started making hip-hop beats and blending classical with the hip-hop, it was the first time it felt like the instrument was mine," Sylvester said. "Before that, it felt like it was my teacher's or my mom's. It felt like it was Bach's or Mozart's. The duo are set for this Tuesday March 28 at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia. READ THE FULL Olympian ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Black Violin is set for South Carolina's Newberry Opera House, this Friday, Mar. 24. The classically trained Florida duo of Kevin Sylvester (violin) and Wilner Baptiste (viola) create truly hybrid music, fitting comfortably in neither hip-hop nor classical. But breaking ground wasn't the initial plan. "Honestly is was more about us becoming producers, incorporating what we knew from classical music and popular music," Baptiste recalls of their early collaborations. "It kind of spawned into this artist touring thing. We started noticing how receptive people were and how the crowd was vibing with us, so we decided to try this out." READ THE FULL freetimes ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Unclassifiable Black Violin keeps kicking down musical walls. The name of the group, which comes to Knight Theater Tuesday and Wednesday, tells just part of the story. In the first place, only Kevin Sylvester (aka Kev Marcus) plays violin; Wilner Baptiste (known as Wil B) plays the slightly larger and deeper viola. In the second, they come with a band, including a drummer and DJ SPS on turntables. You need an ensemble to fuse classical training with hip-hop, rock, R&B and bluegrass. (And maybe a touch of jazz: Black Violin takes its name from a 1965 album recorded by American jazzman Stuff Smith, who died before they were born.) p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px} READ THE FULL Charlotte Observer ARTICLE

A show with Black Violin is to engage. Take Sunday night at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. After letting loose with the opening burst of "Stereotypes," Kev Marcus of the quartet passes on this notice: "Rule One, this is a party." The audience is expected to help fuel the action. Another "rule" is take photographs and videos and share them. This is stuff that performing arts centers and copyright chasers are usually rigid about, and here Marcus is saying have at it, go for it. And many in the audience snap and record away. READ THE FULL WeAreGreenBay ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Win tickets on 88.5 KNKX Radio to Black Violin at Olympia's Washington Center for the Performing Arts. on March 28. Named after an album by African-American preeminent jazz swing-era violinist Stuff Smith, Black Violin blends classical, hip-hop, rock, R&B, and bluegrass music. Accompanied by a drummer and a DJ, Wil Baptiste (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin) are a string duo from Florida who have played together since high school. Selling out shows in 49 states and 36 countries, Black Violin will be an unforgettable performance here at The Center! CLICK HERE FOR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Black Violin consists of classically trained string instrumentalists Kevin Sylvester (violin) and Wilner Baptiste (viola), who met first in high school in Miami. They reconnected after college and discovered that not only did they both still play, they were inspired by the same artists including Curtis Mayfield and jazz violinist Stuff Smith. Together they formed Black Violin, with the idea of fusing the classical musical they were trained on with the hip-hop they loved. They caught the nation's attention when they accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2004 Billboard Awards, going on to perform on the same bill as Wu-Tang Clan and Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. They even appeared on an episode of PBS's "Angelina Ballerina. Black Violin comes to the College of DuPage March 11 for a 7:30 p.m. show at the McAninch Arts Center. SEE THE Chicago Tribune PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica}

For many, it was a refreshing surprise and to others they just could not wait to hear live and in living color the musical geniuses who were the talk of the town in anticipation of their performance in Palo Alto, CA. That would be Kevin Sylvester and Wil Baptiste, nationally and internationally known as Black Violin. Black Violin rocked the roof at Stanford Bing Concert Hall on January 28, 2017 giving life in the Bay Area as part of their UNITY tour. This concert bridged so many gaps including those that stemmed from generation to economic class. The crowd of attendees ranged in age from 10 to 80 and the body movement of everyone in the house was a true sentiment of Stevie Wonder's phrase that music speaks to every culture, gender, ethnicity, class and beyond. While I did my research about Black Violin, still when reading the performance program I was in amazement and reeminded of their many high profile performances from collaborating with super star Jay Z to performing at the White House for President Barak Obama's Inauguration, it goes without saying that the Violin and Viola will quickly become the most sought after instrument of choice to learn among children, youth and young adults. Why? Because these gentlemen have mastered the art of blending their trained classical music skills with their love of hip hop music to break society's stereotypes, and it's only the beginning. READ THE FULL Huffington Post REVIEW

Give a large slice of the credit for protecting, preserving, and propelling the future relevancy of classical music to moms. Who, other than mothers, has throughout history played a larger role in shoving a violin under the chin of a wiggly boy or reminding a willful girl it's time to stop climbing trees and sit down at the keyboard? At the very least, lovers of classical music who want the art form to maintain its rigorous training, respect its history, and simultaneously evolve, can rejoice in the mothers of Kev Marcus (given name, Kevin Sylvester) and Wil B (Wilner Baptiste). The two classically trained musicians make up the duo Black Violin. Their virtuoso fusion of hip-hop and classical music bring to sold-out arenas and concert halls Biggie and Bach, Wu-Tang Clan and Wagner. Add to that the influences of R&B, pop, soul, gospel, and funk, and see that audiences revel in more combinations: Mozart melded with Curtis Mayfield, Shostakovich shaded by the technique and style of early 20th-century jazz violinist Stuff Smith, and so on. p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px} The two musicians, in an interview, credit their mothers and the support of the mothers of their children - Sylvester and his wife, Anne Sylvester, have three daughters; Baptiste and his wife, Corryn Freeman, have a newborn - with providing firm footing for where they stand today. Sylvester once pilfered candy from a store and wound up holding a violin instead, his mother's solution. Baptiste sought the saxophone and says he loves the deep tones of the cello, but settled by default for the viola at a summer music camp long ago. The duo met as high school students in Florida. After their second period orchestra class led by James Miles, a teacher they cite as "monumentally influential," they walked to third period listening to Mary J. Blige, Biggie, and other hip-hop artists. READ THE FULL San Francisco Classical Voice ARTICLE

This February, Indianapolis will have a chance to experience Black Violin at Clowes Memorial Hall on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. If you're into rocking out to a genre-blending synthesis of hip-hop, pop and classical music with people of all ages and backgrounds, a Black Violin show might be the move. The sonically eclectic Black Violin consists of violinist Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, who plays the viola. The duo, who call themselves Wil and Kev on stage, aim to bridge the gap between classical music and hip-hop. "We want to show people not to judge a book by its cover while creating something that is musically interesting and carries a message. The message is that it doesn't matter who you are. If you want to do something, do it," said Baptiste.  READ THE FULL Indianapolis Recorder ARTICLE

On the 21st: Florida-based - Black Violin discusses how they're working to break down stereotypes. Kev & Wil performed a few songs for us and discussed how they're working to change stereotypes in both music and society. Classically trained Black Violin have opened for such diverse top names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and also creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys, the latter for the Billboard Music Awards. Their Universal Classics debut was produced by Eli Wolf (The Roots & Elvis Costello, Norah Jones).    LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

With so many classically-trained musicians auditioning for an ever-shrinking number of orchestra jobs, sometimes musicians need to find a new path toward employment and artistic fulfillment. Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste have done just that. Their band, Black Violin, is something quite out of the ordinary: a meeting and meshing of hip-hop, popular and classical styles. Florida-based Sylvester and Baptiste, who go by Kev Marcus and Wil B, are two musicians with degrees in classical music performance who have been performing together as Black Violin for more than 10 years. They've made two major recordings, Classically Trained (2012), and Stereotypes (2015). This year they are busier than ever, performing live concerts all over the United States, with educational workshops at nearly every stop, and a gig as the featured act at the 2017 NAMM Show Grand Rally for Music Education in January in Anaheim. They've also just co-scored the soundtrack for FOX's new baseball drama "Pitch", along with composer Jon Erlich. "Violin became cool to me when I realized it was like a weapon I could wield in different ways," Sylvester said. "I could put on a cummerbund and play Walton Viola Concerto, or I could put a beat on and the people in my dorm room would start rapping to it. Eventually I found a way to make the violin into a voice for me." READ THE FULL Violinist.com ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

When FOX's new baseball drama "Pitch" debuted in September, it wasn't just the pilot that started on a high note. The show's soundtrack also made a strong impression of the audience, featuring upbeat string instrumentals. The group pulling the strings? Black Violin, Florida-based pair Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste - who go by Wil B and Kev Marcus - who combine classical and hip-hop. "Pitch" creator Dan Fogelman came to one of their shows and "was impressed with how we blended the genres together," Sylvester told The Daily News in an interview with the duo. "We had to come up with Ginny's theme," said Baptiste of their first assignment for the pilot. "It was the perfect thing for us," Sylvester added. "Ginny (Kylie Bunbury) is breaking stereotypes and doing things you don't associate a woman doing," A major running theme of Black Violin's music is breaking stereotypes - you don't expect two tall black men to be classical violinists. READ THE FULL Daily News ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

They grew up playing classical music in the school orchestra, but what they listened to on their own time was hip-hop. Now, two former high school classmates have found a way to blend the two genres in the breakout duo Black Violin. Wil B plays the viola; Kev Marcus plays the violin. They shared a music stand at Dillard High School of Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - and they've been creating music together ever since. "When we were growing up, we were always talking about, ‘How can we do this in a way that no one has ever done it?' " said Marcus, whose actual name is Kevin Sylvester. Now about 15 years later, they're scoring the soundtrack for the FOX TV show "Pitch." They've performed or toured with Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Linkin Park, Tom Petty, Lupe Fiasco and the Wu-Tang Clan, among others. This year alone, they have performed for nearly 100,000 students across the U.S. and Europe. In between, they're selling out venues that in some cases seat thousands of fans. Black Violin visited Denver last week to perform at the annual fundraising gala for the Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation. Earlier in the day, Wil B and Kev Marcus performed for the elementary students at STRIVE Prep-Ruby Hill school, where all children are on the free and reduced lunch program. READ THE FULL Denver Post ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Black Violin brought their unique fusion of classical and hip-hop styles to the Holland Center for Performing Arts Friday night in a high-energy concert that had audience members dancing in the aisles. The two-member band consists of classically trained Wil Baptiste (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin). The pair has been mashing up highbrow tunes with danceable beats since they met in a Miami high school 20 years ago. In April 2015 they returned to Omaha for the 114th show of their Unity Tour and have evolved musically to incorporate R&B, jazz and rock elements and expand the genre-busting intent behind Black Violin's music. In a 90-minute set before a sold-out house, the duo, joined by DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes, produced a sound that was distinctive, unique and above all, exciting. Hard-hitting beats with lush string sounds dominated the evening but with a great variety of content and musical exploration. Opening number "Stereotypes," the title track of Black Violin's major-label debut, served as a mission statement for the tour: breaking stereotypes and creating unity. Marcus encouraged people to think outside the box. Expanding on that later in the program, he spoke directly to the children in the audience, encouraging them to be unique: "Whatever you do, do it in a way no one's ever done it before." READ THE FULL Omaha World-Herald REVIEW

"This is a party!" said Wil B (Wilner Baptiste) one half of the group Black Violin, which performed a genre-mashing amalgam of hip hop and classical in an unforgettable concert last night at The Music Center at Strathmore. Black Violin consists of Kev Marcus (aka Kevin Sylvester) and Wil B (Wilner Baptiste), two string instrumentalists, classically trained, who met in a Miami high school 20 years ago. The sold out concert (1800 strong) was their 111th of the year and part of Black Violin's Unity Tour. Featuring Kev's violin and Wil's viola, the concert featured an evening of beats, rhythms, spoken inspiration, strong vocals and stringed rhapsody. "She pays all my bills…my car note…beautiful brown skin," said Wil B of his viola, which he named Tiffany. The duo performed a cover of "Uptown Funk" that was fun and funky, but for a group with creativity of this magnitude, unnecessary. Wil B's vocals in the group's cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On" were jazzy-smooth. READ THE FULL DC Metro Theater Arts REVIEW p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

A crowd of nearly 1,200 rose to its feet in momentous applause on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Templeton Blackburn Memorial Auditorium. Excited cheers and enthusiastic dancing accompanied the performance of the classical/hip-hop string duo Black Violin. Classically-trained musicians Kevin Sylvester (stage name Kev Marcus) and Wilner Baptiste (stage name Will B) compose the musical duo, and since their 2004 performance alongside Alicia Keys, the artists have found critical acclaim. Their success has led to collaborations with songwriters such as Tom Petty, and even an appearance on the children's TV show Angelina Ballerina. p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px} Like most successful musicians, the pair got their start early on. Viola player and singer Wil B found his passion after mistakenly being placed in viola classes, rather than his intended saxophone instruction. Violinist Marcus was introduced to musical performance by his mother to keep him out of trouble. The two attended school together until parting ways for college, only to reunite once more and form Black Violin years later. READ THE FULL WOUB: Radio - Athens OH REVIEW p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Black Violin, Two violinists ( Wil Baptiste and Kev Sylvester ) who are revolutionizing the way people think about classical music, will be performing at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday November 2 at 7:30 p.m. The event, which is a part of the Performing Arts and Concert Series, is open to the public. BV p has played alongside various prominent artists such as Kanye West and Aerosmith, and also performed for President Obama at the Inaugural Ball. Dominique Francisco, a former OU student, plans on attending the concert and is interested in the group's multi-genre performing style. "I think it will be a mix of classical and hip-hop, pretty much a mix," she said. The Athens performance is a part of the group's nationwide Unity Tour, which commenced in August. Baptiste and Sylvester announced the tour with a statement on their website. READ THE FULL Athens Post ARTICLE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Black Violin  ( Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus ) is set to play Naperville's Wentz Hall on October 16. Changing stereotypes about who plays the violin and what gets played on it, Black Violin are as comfortable with Bach or Vivaldi as they are playing Kanye West. "You're going to see a really energetic show," Baptiste said. "The best way to describe our show is a rock concert from a violinist's perspective. Instead of guitars, you're going to see violins. It's a high-energy show, it's a positive show, it's a show you can bring your kids, your mother, your grandparents, and everyone's going to be standing up dancing and having a good time and experiencing a new way to approach music." READ THE FULL Naperville Sun | Chicago Tribune ARTICLE

Musicians just keep breaking down categories and classifications. The latest example to come our way is Black Violin, which appears Thursday night at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. They're a couple of African-American guys in their early 30s – a violinist and a violist, actually – who have top-grade classical training but spend much of their creative time in the realm of hip-hop. "About 98 percent of what we do is completely original," explains violinist Kev Marcus. "It's something that we come up with to marry classical and hip-hop in a genuine way. We use mostly acoustic violins, but at the same time it's something the fans of Kanye or Drake can understand." READ THE FULL Albany Times Union ARTICLE

Neither Wilner Baptiste nor Kevin Sylvester had any interest in learning to play a stringed instrument while growing up. But Sylvester's mom enrolled him in a violin class after he got into trouble, and Baptiste mistakenly got placed in a violin class instead of one for saxophone. Today, they are Black Violin, classically trained musicians who have bridged the gap between classical and popular music. Going by the stage names Wil B. and Kev Marcus, they've performed with Kanye West and Aerosmith and at President Barack Obama's January 2013 inaugural dinner. They've collaborated with Alicia Keys and have performed for more than 100,000 students in North America and Europe in the past year, espousing accessible music education for youngsters. When they come to Genesee Theatre on Oct. 1, their goal is to unite young and old, lovers of all kinds of music and people of all different races through their music. It's part of their Unity Tour 2016. "With all things that are going on in our society, we just felt like we had to come up with a name that represented what we represented," said Baptiste, who plays viola in the duo. READ THE FULL News-Sun - Chicago Tribune ARTICLE

When some people think of two individuals playing the violin, they make assumptions regarding the type of music they will play, the way the performers look and the way the performers present themselves. However, when Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus came on stage, they demonstrated just how different their perspective of playing the violin is. Their group, Black Violin, challenges stereotypes. Some of the first words that came out of Marcus' mouth were, "Scream. Yell. Clap along and sing along." Wil then proceeded to hype up the crowd shouting things like, "Stand up! Hands up." The sold-out Waterman Theater held a beyond enthusiastic audience on Sept. 20, with people dancing, singing and recording the performance. Baptiste and Marcus made sure that there audience was as interactive as possible, even saying things like "flash photography is encouraged" and "follow us on Facebook." Baptiste and Marcus intrigued the audience by playing well known songs such as "Too Good," "Controlla" and "One Dance" by the rapper Drake. They also dipped into different genres, playing "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye, "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran and "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" by Mike Posner. Toward the end of their performance, they played classical composers, but the traditional aspect didn't stop them from adding their own "stink," as Baptiste said. The two men performed some of their own songs, including "Invisible," "A-flat" and "Stereotype." READ THE FULL Oswegonian REVIEW

You might have heard of a subset of classical music called classical crossover. What is it and why is it so popular? Artists like The Piano Guys, Simply Three, Black Violin, David Garrett and Lindsey Stirling are all classically trained musicians who explore and mashup pop styles that are trending now. Some grew up as prodigies, others met in music school. But they are all part of a diverse genre of music called, you guessed it, classical crossover. Violinist Lindsey Sterling has held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Album chart an astonishing three times. She's a certified YouTube star with more than 8 million subscribers whose fans love her original music, creative videos and super sweet dance moves. Sterling recently teamed up with pianist Lang Lang for this cover of the "Spider-Man Theme" on his new album New York Rhapsody. The Piano Guys are the undisputed kings of the mashup. They became a YouTube sensation when they combined Faure's "Pavane" with David Guetta's "Titanium," earning them more than 58 million views and a Sony recording contract. Here they say "Hello" again, mixing Mozart, Adele and a room full of mirrors. Kev Marcus and Will B. met in high school in Florida, reunited after college and formed the band Black Violin. One of them also plays viola. They've worked with Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Tom Petty and Aerosmith, among others. When they tour, they take along a cello, drummer and DJ presenting something unique in the world of orchestral music. Here is a medley of "Locked Outta Heaven" by Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson's "Beat It." SEE THE FULL WQXR Radio PAGE

It's one thing to say that Black Violin wants to bust stereotypes with their music and careers. After all, they're two African-American men playing violin to hip hop in a field that is overwhelmingly lacking in black musicians. But to merely state that is an academic sort of assessment, dry and matter-of-fact. It's quite another to see them do it live onstage, where you get to see just how impactful their unique blend of hip-hop and classical music can be. Yes, the group is making classical music interesting to another generation. And yeah, it's great that they're completely loosening up the shirt collars of classical music purists. But at the end of the day, it's just an exhilarating show. That's what we're all here for. Watch the subject of our latest Uncharted episode bring their interesting blend down to Miami, where the duo rocked out at the Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in a homecoming show.  WATCH THE VIDEO

To listen to the recorded music of Black Violin, a hip-hop duo composed of two classically trained stringed instrumentalists, is an extremely different experience than seeing them in person. To put it differently, if a picture is worth a thousand words, the imagery of a Black Violin concert is worth a billion – although I promise this review won't be quite that long. "We put two worlds together," Kevin Sylvester – aka Kev Marcus – told the packed audience tonight after taking the Johnson Control Stage at 8 p.m. Sylvester, who is a violinist, was referring to the group's undefined genre of music, which mashes classical with hip-hop and, sometimes, pop and soul. Tonight, he wore a black T-shirt that said, "I defy stereotypes," and indeed, he and Wilner Baptiste, a viola player who goes by the stage name Will B., did just that. READ THE FULL OnMilwaukee REVIEW

The Florida-based duo, Black Violin, is redefining music. Members Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste (viola) and Kevin "Kev" Marcus Sylvester (violin) radically fuse hip-hop and pop with classical music to create a kaleidoscope of sounds uniquely their own.  Classically trained musicians, they have opened for such diverse top names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and also creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys, the latter for the Billboard Music Awards. Set for release on September 18 on Universal Music Classics, their major label debut Stereotypes was produced by Eli Wolf (The Roots & Elvis Costello, Norah Jones).    Black Violin is performing Tonight - Thursday night in Atlanta at Variety Playhouse. Will B talks about the duo's appeal and their mission of getting making classical music more accessible.  VIEW THE GPB PAGE

Black Violin performed a genre-shattering fusion of classical and hip hop in an unforgettable concert last night at The Barns at Wolf Trap.  Black Violin is composed of Kev Marcus (aka Kevin Sylvester) and Wil B (Wilner Baptiste), two classically trained string instrumentalists who met in high school 20 years ago in Miami. Between Kev's violin and Wil's viola, the sold-out concert (their 42nd of the year) featured an evening of strings, beats and rhythms that had the audience both enthralled and dancing to the hip-hop beats. Standing in front of a spare, black set with a white-chalk-like drawing of a violin on the back drape, Wil B signaled that this concert would break stereotypes by his insistence that the audience snap pictures and tag Black Violin on Social Media; he encouraged the audience to party. The highlight of not only the concert, but of what Black Violin can do, was the duo's hip hop cover of "Brandenburg Concerto" by Johann Sebastian Bach. The cover was reminiscent of an earlier Bach\modern-music-mashup, the 1968 Grammy-winning album Switched on Bach by Wendy Carlos (famous for scoring the movie soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange). Starting low volume, low energy, Black Violin's cover exploded into a majestic mushroom cloud of hip hop beats and classical strings. READ THE FULL DC Metro Arts Theatre REVIEW

Black Violin Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste (viola) and Kevin "Kev" Marcus Sylvester (violin), a duo who radically fuse hip-hop and pop with classical music to create a kaleidoscope of sounds uniquely their own, brought their unique brand of hip-hop infused classical music to Jacksonville's Ritz Theatre and LaVilla Museum, March 3, 2016. The classically trained duo performed tracks from their new album 'Stereotypes' to a crowd of fans. See the performers on stage.  Black Violin have opened for such diverse top names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and also creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys, the latter for the Billboard Music Awards. 'Stereotypes' was released on September 18 on Universal Music Classics, their major label debut was produced by Eli Wolf (The Roots & Elvis Costello, Norah Jones).   SEE THE Jacksonville.com PAGE

Wilner "Wil B" Baptiste (viola) and Kevin "Kev" Marcus Sylvester (violin) are Black Violin, a duo who radically fuse hip-hop and pop with classical music to create a kaleidoscope of sounds uniquely their own.  Classically trained musicians, they have opened for such diverse top names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith and Tom Petty, and also creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys, the latter for the Billboard Music Awards. Their Universal Music Classics debut - Stereotypes was produced by Eli Wolf (The Roots & Elvis Costello, Norah Jones).    The duo played a free show for Portland Public Schools students before their show at Portland's Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall   WATCH THE KGW-TV VIDEO

Classical music collides with hip-hop beats in a performance Saturday by musical duo Black Violin. Violinist Kevin Sylvester and violist Wilner Baptiste will perform at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in Southeastern San Diego. The classically-trained musicians integrate elements of classical and hip-hop music in hopes of keeping classical music alive for the next generation. Their music aims to break barriers and shatter stereotypes. "I'm a 260-pound black guy. I'm 6'2". I look more like I should play for the Chargers than a violinist," said Kevin Sylvester. "But I can use that and go on stage and completely change people's perceptions about what is possible – about what a violin can sound like, about what music can sound like, what hip-hop can sound like, what classical music can sound like and what a black guy can do with a violin." The duo says the violin is a tool for a larger message: don't be afraid to be different. Black Violin released its latest album, "Stereotypes," in 2015. In anticipation of their San Diego appearance, the Jacobs Center launched a social media campaign to encourage San Diegans to share the stereotypes they've encountered. The public is being asked to use the hashtag #ImNOTAStereotype. Over the years, Black Violin has performed at the Apollo Theater with recording artists Kanye West and Alicia Keys, and at President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Sylvester and Baptiste discussed their upcoming local concert Thursday on Midday Edition. Saturday's show is sold out.   LISTEN TO THE KPBS: San Diego SEGMENT

Kevin Sylvester was aware that his mom wanted to keep him out of trouble, which was where he seemed to be headed even as a fifth-grader on the streets of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. So she began sending him to violin lessons. "I did not like it at all," Sylvester recalled during a recent interview by telephone, first because he didn't want his friends to see him with the instrument - and also because he assumed someone eventually would try to fast track him into playing music in a tuxedo. "And that was not ever going to happen," he stated. READ THE FULL LubbockOnline.com ARTICLE

The members of Black Violin want to change perceptions about who can play what kind of music. Wil Baptiste on viola and Kev Marcus on violin met as high school orchestra nerds. Today they play genre-bending music, blending classical music with hip-hop. Jeffrey Brown talks to them about their new album, "Stereotypes." WATCH THE PBS NEWSHOUR VIDEO

Generally speaking, when you think of performers who use stringed instruments such as the viola or violin, you likely picture stuffy aging white men, seated deep within the pit of a concert hall, each draped head to toe in formal wear, entertaining throngs of incredibly well-behaved - and seated - aristocrats. Essentially, classical music is what comes to mind. What does NOT generally come to mind, is the world of hip-hop, with its reputation for wild crowds, party vibes and love of all things weed-related. No, for most, those musical worlds seem far, far apart. Of course, not everyone has heard Black Violin - yet. Wil B and Kev Marcus have taken on the task of merging the seemingly un-mergeable genres of hip-hop and classical music, while throwing in bits of bluegrass, jazz and fusion, as well. That is the essence of Black Violin. While these genres may seem at odds, audiences have ignored the implied boundaries, embracing the Floridian duo, who's show-stopping performances at both Bonnaroo and NBC's "Showtime at the Apollo" helped to cement their reputation within the last decade. At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, the band will appear at Stockton University's Performing Arts Center. We had a chance to chat with violist Wil B and get his take on hip-hop, stringed instrumets and what it means to "prove it" every night. Here's what he had to say.