Black Violin Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Fall Tour

May 22, 2024 | Sarasota

Prepare for an extraordinary evening on November 21, 2024 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as Black Violin commemorates 20 years of musical innovation with their BV20: Then & Now tour. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 10am ET.

This groundbreaking duo, renowned for their genre-defying fusion of classical music and hip-hop rhythms, is set to captivate audiences with live performances across the country once again this fall. In celebration of the bands 20th anniversary, their new single “Legends in the Making” is out now.

BV20: Then & Now will showcase the incredible 20 year journey of Black Violin so far, featuring Kev Marcus on violin and Wil Baptiste on viola/vocals, joined by Nat Stokes on drums, DJ SPS on turntables, and Liston Gregory on keys. This talented ensemble will deliver a performance that transcends genres, combining the elegance of classical strings with the dynamic beats of hip-hop.

Kev Marcus from the group shares, “​​Fans can expect us to illustrate our journey from high school to headliner, and we plan to celebrate all of it: Then and Now. We want our fans to feel energized, inspired, and more driven to chase their dreams.” Kev reflects on the band’s anniversary saying, “I am very excited about the 20th anniversary of Black Violin. In some ways, it feels like it flew by, but we took the stairs and did it our way, and for that, I am extremely proud.” Wil Baptiste also shares his excitement, “This BV20: Then & Now tour is going to be incredible! New music and also revitalized classics. Our fans are going to experience the 20 years of growth of Black Violin.”

The band has lots to be proud of from their humble beginnings as highschool orchestra classmates, to triumphant winners of Showtime at the Apollo, to now being two time grammy nominated, internationally touring musicians. Black Violin is also known for being strong advocates for music education. Kev Marcus states, “We take pride in staying true to ourselves and inspiring others to do the same. Our foundation’s mission of providing music education opportunities for children nationwide is a source of great pride. Our dedicated band members have been with us for almost a decade, and our entire team shares our passion and values.” In 2019, Black Violin launched the Black Violin Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth by providing access to quality music programs in their community.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Black Violin live and celebrate two decades of music that has inspired and uplifted fans around the globe. Be part of an evening filled with celebration, inspiration, and the enduring power of dreams with Black Violin’s BV20: Then & Now.

Tickets start at $36 and can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact 941-263-6726.