Press Releases

Black Violin to perform at Smith Opera House Oct. 28

Black Violin members Wil B. and Key Marcus are pictured here.

Black Violin is lead by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin), and joined onstage by DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes.

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Karen Miltner, 315-781-5483, smithcenterforthearts@gmail.com
Photo credit: Colin Brennan
Photo caption: Black Violin is made up of Wil B. on viola and Kev Marcus on violin. They will perform Oct. 28 at the Smith Opera House in Geneva.

GENEVA NY — Black Violin, the electrifying Florida-based string instrumentalists known for their hip-hop approach to classical music, will continue their successful Classical Boom Tour this fall with a performance at Geneva’s Smith Opera House on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. They will be joined onstage by DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes. The band has returned to the road after spending the summer working on their upcoming album due out in 2019. The tour is a continuation of their well-received winter run which included back-to-back sold out performances at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..

Black Violin is composed of classically trained Wil B. on viola and Kev Marcus on violin. They combine their classical training and hip-hop influences to create a distinctive multi-genre sound that is often described as “classical boom.” 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.  

The duo composed music for the television series Pitch which debuted on FOX in 2016, in addition to appearances on HBO’s Ballers, The Tonight Show, The Wendy Williams Show, The Kate TV, and The Ellen Show.

In addition, Black Violin has performed for more than 100,000 students in the past 12 months throughout North America and Europe. The band is endorsed by Yamaha Music and Bose, and has partnered with the National Association for Music Manufacturers (NAMM) to continue their advocacy for accessible music education.

Black Violin is currently writing and recording their next studio album. They just released a new music video titled “Dreamer” that can be seen on the website, www.blackviolin.net.  The band’s 2015 record, “Stereotypes,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and No. 4 on the Billboard R&B Chart. NPR praised the album and band, saying “their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.”

Earlier in the year, Black Violin was announced as the Turnaround Artist for Mary B. Bethune Elementary School in their hometown of Broward County, FL. Turnaround Arts, a national education program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, infuses arts into struggling schools to support overall reform efforts. Founded by President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2012, the program partners schools with music instrument grants, arts supplies, professional development, musicals, and pairs each school with an artist to provide mentorship, inspiration, and support for the school’s journey in the program. Turnaround Artists include Elton John, Edward Norton, and Yo-Yo Ma, among other highly acclaimed members of the arts community.

Members of the media who would like to schedule a telephone interview with Black Violin to preview the group’s Oct. 28 performance at the Smith Opera House should contact Karen Miltner at 315-781-5483 or smithcenterforthearts@gmail.com.

Reserved seating tickets for Black Violin are $37 and $47 plus service fees and can be purchased at the Smith Box Office by phone or in person during box office hours and one hour before the show. They can also be purchased anytime at www.thesmith.org.

The Smith Center for the Arts, stewards of the historic Smith Opera House, provides diverse arts and educational enrichment opportunities year-round for Finger Lakes residents and visitors. The Smith Opera House is at 82 Seneca St. in Geneva, NY. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. For more information, call 315-781-5483 during box office hours or visit www.thesmith.org.