“This show isn’t about the violin, it’s about breaking stereotypes,” Black Violin front man Kev Marcus said. 

Black Violin performed its hip-hop, classical fusion music for a lively audience at Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Saturday. The classically trained duo — violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil Baptiste — are from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ensemble also included DJ SPS, drummer Nat Stokes and pianist Liston Greogory III. 

Black Violin secured a Grammy nomination for their latest release, “Take the Stairs.” The group has accompanied Alicia Keys and performed on the same bill as Wu-Tang Clan, also working with artists like Kanye West, Tom Petty and Lupe Fiasco. They were also invited to perform at the Kids Inaugural Concert for former U.S. President Barack Obama. 

Before their rise to fame, Marcus and Baptiste met in their high school orchestra class at Dillard HS of Performing Arts. Baptiste had wanted to study saxophone, but viola was the only available instrument and Marcus’s mother got him into violin lessons.

“To the young musicians in the audience: practice, practice, practice,” Marcus said, providing inspiration for the many young faces in attendance. “Find that thing you love. Find that thing, and one day somebody’s going to pay you to do it.”

At Luhrs, Black Violin captivated the audience with their unexpected violin and viola stylings. One may have expected a traditional, classical concert, but Black Violin turned this idea inside out as the group rocked covers of Imagine Dragons, Daniel Caesar and recognizable orchestra pieces. Baptiste does not only play the viola, but is also a singer and played his viola like an electric guitar as he serenaded the audience. 

Black Violin included many segments that alluded to popular music, even referencing “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”story, where a violinist must battle the devil. 

They encouraged flash photography and invited members of the audience to get up and dance if they felt like it. The show as a whole was incredibly fun, and the audience was highly receptive — clapping along with the songs and verbally encouraging the performers. 

Marcus and Baptiste responded with expressive bow strokes and big smiles, and everyone could feel the love. The show included many aspects to keep the show visually entertaining like choreographed lights and fog machines as well.

“Some call this ‘improv,’” Marcus said before the group started their next song, “We call it freestyle.” Each musician in Black Violin was highlighted in their own segment, including the improvisational portion of the show. 

DJ SPS’s section included a transition from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony into Usher’s “Yeah!” truly highlighting the group’s range of inspirations. 

Marcus and Baptiste set groundwork for each other and built off the rhythms during the freestyle section, showcasing their artistic chemistry from performing together for so many years.

Before the pandemic, Black Violin was committed to playing more than 200 shows a year. Many of these were for low-income students in urban areas. They aim to challenge ideas about stereotypes by bringing people together through music. 

Black Violin has also launched the Black Violin Foundation Inc., which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality music programs in communities. 

Not only is Black Violin committed to their passions but improving the world around them in what ways they can as well.

For more information on upcoming performances and music, follow Black Violin on Instagram @blackviolin or go to their website (https://blackviolin.net). Black Violin’s five studio albums are also available on all streaming platforms. 

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