Manitoba Theatre for Young People: Black Violin A Soulful Synergy, January 21 to 30

FROM THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO…TO MTYP:
BLACK VIOLIN A SOULFUL SYNERGY
January 21-30, 2010
“An ingenious combination of hipness and wholesomeness”
New York Times

Click here for: Black Violin Website

They’ve shared the stage with Alicia Keys, Kanye West, P Diddy, 50 Cent, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, The Eagles and Tom Petty. They’ve been featured on The Tonight Show, CSI New York and Jimmy Kimmel Live…and now BLACK VIOLIN is set to rock the house at MTYP, from January 21 to 30.

Classically trained virtuosos, violinist Kev Marcus and violist Wil B, together with their DJ, are redefining the music world, blending classical with hip-hop, jazz and blues to create a whole new sensation. With influences ranging from Shostakovich and Bach to Nas and Jay-Z, Black Violin breaks all the rules in a performance experience unlike any other.

BLACK VIOLIN transcends genres and defies categorization. But beyond their musical virtuosity and innovation, the artists bring an inspiring message to young people—to go for their dreams, and reach higher and higher.

The artists of Black Violin will be joined on MTYP’s stage by drummer Jermaine “Beatdown” McQueen of Linkin Park.

“This show is a true hybrid—a crossover between the street and the concert hall—and I wanted our audiences to see that theatre incorporates many art forms,” said MTYP Artistic Director Leslee Silverman. “I wanted to open the decade with a piece that melds world-class performance, street theatre and a very high level of art.”

Beginning on the viola at 12 (Wil B) and the violin at 9 (Marcus), both artists were granted full music scholarships to college, where the seeds of BLACK VIOLIN were sown. The pair first came to the attention of the music industry in 2004 when they joined superstar Alicia Keys on stage at the Billboard Music Awards. The next year, BLACK VIOLIN was awarded the coveted title of Apollo Legend by the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. This led to an invitation from Linkin Park lead singer Mike Shinoda to join him on a world tour with his hip-hop side project, Fort Minor.

Kev and Wil B bring young people to their feet with their compelling performance, while at the same time stressing the importance of education, self-expression and practice, practice, practice! Through their performances, and their work with youth orchestras and music programs in the U.S., they hope to give children and teens the same opportunities they enjoyed.

Tickets for BLACK VIOLIN are priced at $13.60 and available at the MTYP Box Office, 942-8898 or online at http://www.mtyp.ca.

“More than just a concert… a raucous, rousing, genre-busing performance piece…” Time Out New York

Black Violin
Kev Marcus
Wil B

Also featuring:
DJ TK
Jermaine “Beatdown” McQueen

Public Performances:
Friday, January 22, 7:30 pm (Opening Night)
Saturday, January 23, 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 30, 4:00 pm

Best enjoyed by age 10 and up

All tickets: $13.60, at the MYTP Box Office: 942-8898
or at http://www.mtyp.ca