Black Violin Announce Unity Tour

Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7:30 PM

Muriel Kauffman Theatre

Wilner “Wil B” Baptiste (viola) and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester (violin) are Black Violin – an exhilarating violin/viola hip-hop duo that performs for audiences of all ages. Classically trained musicians, the two musicians met as high school orchestra nerds; today they play genre-bending music, radically fusing hip-hop and pop with classical to create a kaleidoscope of sounds uniquely their own. The group is on a perception-changing, stereotype-shattering mission with their unique take on classical music. Named one of the hottest bands at South by Southwest, they have opened for such diverse names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith, and Tom Petty, and creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean, and Alicia Keys. Their major label debut, Stereotypes, was released last year to critical acclaim and incorporates their many musical influences from classical, R&B, soul, rock, and beyond. The pair creates a distinctive, peerless sound that continues to resonate with a broad variety of music lovers.

The duo announced their unity tour this past August with the tour’s goal being to “encourage and empower people of all ages, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds to find what connects us, rather than shine a light on what divides us.” Black Violin combines powerful voiceovers with hip-hop style violin/viola in their song Stereotypes, a piece which seeks to define what a stereotype is and how it negatively impacts those who are on the receiving end of prejudice.

This introspective duo joins pioneer Lindsey Sterling (electronic classical crossover dubstep artist) in making classical music more approachable for the next generation. Wilner Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester have played in front of nearly 100,000 students this past year, in the hopes that their music will spread an impactful message to young people about embracing their identity and rising above labels.

When asked about how the duo has experienced stereotypes themselves, Kevin Sylvester tells a story about an encounter with a woman in an elevator. Her assumption that he, as “a 6-foot-2-inch, 260- pound black man”, wasn’t a classically trained violinist based solely on his appearance was an eye-opening moment for Sylvester. He acknowledges that while “she didn’t mean it maliciously…I hope she gets to see us in concert and we can change her perception.”  The exchange inspired the name Stereotypes for their latest album. Their music video for the song paints a picture of how the performing arts unite everyone (no matter the skin color) under a shared passion for creative expression. See it here:

The duo hopes that their classical/hip-hop crossover style will bring together diverse groups and keep classical music alive for the next generation. Join us for an inspiring night with Black Violin on Nov. 17 at the Kauffman Center.

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