GRAMMY-nominated duo Black Violin brings genre-defying sound to Eccles Center

Photo: Courtesy of Black Violin

PARK CITY, UT — The genre-blending duo Black Violin, known for their fusion of classical string music and hip-hop, will perform at the Eccles Performing Arts Center on October 2. The group, composed of violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil Baptiste, has been captivating audiences for over two decades with their innovative sound and energetic performances.

Formed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Marcus and Baptiste met in orchestra class at Dillard High School. They honed their skills through classical training in both high school and college before transitioning to producing beats for local hip-hop artists.

“Hip-hop is about being creative and being yourself and I think for us that’s what gave us the confidence to be able to blend the two worlds together. We credit that to hip-hop and we’re always inspired by artists in different genres,” Baptiste shared.

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Their unique combination of classical string instruments with contemporary hip-hop eventually garnered them national attention, leading to their victory on Showtime at the Apollo in 2005. Since then, Black Violin has played sold-out shows at venues across the country, including a two-night headlining stint at The Kennedy Center in 2018. “Classical training definitely influenced us and helped us in the way we approach music because it taught us discipline. It fine-tuned our skills and techniques which allowed us to be able to play classical and hip hop and make it look effortless, and that’s because of our training in college and high school,” Baptiste said.

Over the years, Black Violin has collaborated with artists such as Alicia Keys, Wu-Tang Clan, and 2 Chainz, solidifying their reputation as boundary-pushing musicians. Their latest album, Take The Stairs, was nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards. “The creative process for that album was great. We went into the studio, locked ourselves in for weeks at a time with our producer Phil Beaudrea. I think the message we wanted to convey was the idea of our careers, how we’ve always took the stairs, we didn’t take the short road, and because of that, I think we are the artists we are today. Taking the stairs might be the most difficult road to take but I think it’s a lot more rewarding,” Baptiste said.

In addition to their commercial success, Marcus and Baptiste are committed to education and outreach. The duo frequently performs for young, low-income students in urban areas, aiming to challenge stereotypes about what classical musicians look and sound like. In 2019 alone, they performed for more than 100,000 students across the U.S.

“I think it’s really impactful to allow the kids to see themselves on stage, not only that, I think the most important thing about them being on stage is the audience. The community gets to see how impactful this performance is — how impactful the instrument is to these kids, and then, I think the community can rally behind the schools. Then, if there’s anything happening that relates to taking the string instruments out of our kids hands I think the community would fight for it,” Baptiste said. “I think it definitely gives the kids confidence to keep going, keep fighting, but also the community, too.”

The Eccles Performing Arts Center performance promises to showcase their genre-defying sound, blending classical rigor with hip-hop energy. “The audience can expect a great show, it’s going to be incredibly impactful, a lot of moving parts. We have a brand new album coming out next year so we’re showcasing about 6 songs from our new album. So new music, new flow, it’s gonna be great. It’s gonna be amazing, it’s gonna be incredible,” Baptiste shared.

Tickets for the October 2 show are available through the Eccles Center website.