Black Violin continues ‘Classical Boom Tour’ with Des Moines stop

DES MOINES — Des Moines Performing Arts presents the American hip hop duo, Black Violin, at the Des Moines Civic Center for one night only at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11. Tickets for this performance will go on sale at 9 a.m. Aug. 17 and can be purchased at DMPA.org, the Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

Black Violin will continue their successful “Classical Boom Tour” this fall with more than 40 shows scheduled to close out 2018. The band will return 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 currently writing and recording their next studio album with a track and music video expected to be released later this summer. The band’s most recent record, Stereotypes, debuted at #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, Fla. 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.

Black Violin is composed of classically trained violist and violinist Wil B. And Kev Marcus, who 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.

For additional information about Black Violin, please visit DMPA.org.