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The masterful duo @blackviolin (Twitter & Instagram)/@blackviolinmusic (Facebook) returns, bringing their unique, genre-bending sound back to our stage @KimmelCC (Twitter)/@KimmelCulturalCampus (Facebook and Instagram) on 3/9/23. For more info, visit kimmelculturalcampus.org.
Press Contacts:
Lauren A. Woodard Hall
484-832-1963
lhall@kimmelculturalcampus.org
Hannah Palermo
267-765-3724
hpalermo@alliedglobalmarketing.com
KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS PRESENTS GENRE-BENDING MUSIC DUO, BLACK VIOLIN, WITH THEIR NEWEST TOUR
THE BLACK VIOLIN EXPERIENCE
MARCH 9, 2023
“Black Violin upends cultural and musical stereotypes... an unexpected blend of classically trained musicianship and hip-hop beats and inventiveness.”
—The Miami Herald
“Their music will keep classical music alive for the next generation.”
– NPR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 24, 2022) – The Kimmel Cultural Campus presents the two-time Grammy nominated American hip-hop duo, Black Violin, in The Black Violin Experience at the Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theater) on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
Led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin), their unique genre-bending sound fuses classical music with hip-hop sensibilities and R&B. Joining them onstage are Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on the turntable, and Liston Gregory on keys. Together they are reconceptualizing what a violin concert looks and sounds like, building bridges to a place where Mozart, Marvin Gaye, and Kendrick Lamar harmoniously coexist. Fans can expect to be immersed in a sound that transcends categories and celebrates ingenuity and ambition, proving anything is possible.
“Black Violin is known for their commitment to breaking down barriers and empowering youth through music,” said Matías Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. “Back by popular demand, this duo brings high energy and innovation to performances that cross genres, creating a unique concert-going experience.”
Black Violin has shared stages with top names, including Kanye West, Aerosmith, The Roots, and Tom Petty, and the group has creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean, and Alicia Keys. Their record, Stereotypes, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart and at #4 on the Billboard R&B chart. Their most recent record, Take the Stairs, was released in November 2019 and earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Wil B. and Kev Marcus place heavy emphasis on educational outreach and have performed for more than 100,000 students each year. Black Violin joined with Turnaround Arts, alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Elton John, to bring arts education to struggling schools in underserved communities. Turnaround Arts is a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts founded by former President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
In 2019, the group launched the Black Violin Foundation Inc. (BVF), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by providing access to quality music programs in their community. BVF believes that music and access to music programs should not be determined by race, gender, or socio-economic status. Black Violin Foundation’s inaugural program, the Musical Innovation Grant for Continuing Education, will provide scholarships to young music students to attend a program of their liking that fosters musical creativity and innovation.
Other featured upcoming performances on the Kimmel Cultural Campus include Gregory Porter (February 16, 2023, Academy of Music), DRUMLine Live (February 17, 2023, Miller Theater), Heather McMahan: The Comeback Tour (February 18, 2023, Academy of Music), David Sánchez (February 18, 2023, Perelman Theater), Jay Shetty World Tour: Love Rules (February, 21, 2023, Academy of Music), Karlous Miller: At the End of the Day... (February 25, 2023, Miller Theater), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (February 24 – 26, 2023, Academy of Music), Divi Roxx Kids (February 25, 2023, Perelman Theater), KODO One Earth Tour: Tzumuzi (March, 7, 2023, Miller Theater), The Second City Swipes Right: An Incomplete Guide to The Ultimate Date Night (March 10 – 11, 2023, Perelman Theater), Nimesh Patel: The Lucky Lefty Tour (March 10, 2023, Miller Theater), and Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer (March 11, 2023, Miller Theater).
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 or online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See www.kimmelculturalcampus.org for more information.
The Black Violin Experience
Miller Theater (formerly Merriam Theater) on the Kimmel Cultural Campus
March 9, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.
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KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, our mission is to engage the region's diverse communities with art through performance and education. Our Cultural Campus serves more than 1-million guests per year and includes Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, and SEI Innovation Studio), the Academy of Music, and the Miller Theater (formerly the Merriam Theater) – representing more than 160 years of rich history for the performing arts along Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. We are home to The Philadelphia Orchestra and six esteemed Resident Companies: Opera Philadelphia, Philadelphia Ballet, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, we are the region's most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. Our Cultural Campus serves as a preeminent and inclusive place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the spirit of our region by cultivating a creative and socially responsible environment where our community shares experiences that are delivered with pride, integrity, and respect. As a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, we collaborate on, present, and produce a broad range of relevant and meaningful events, we serve as an active gathering space for social and community events, we educate the region's young people through access to quality arts experiences, and we provide support to artists in the creation of new work. Read Kimmel Cultural Campus' vision statement, world view, and mission statement here. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and how it encompasses our mission, coworkers, and programs here.
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For photography, please visit https://kcccpress.smugmug.com
For a PDF version of this press release, click here.