Violist Wilmer “Wil B” Baptiste and violinist Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester—the team aka Black Violin—became a breakout touring phenomenon this season, taking their unique blend of classical music and hip-hop seemingly everywhere. The tour follows the 2015 release of their third album, Stereotypes. The Florida natives met as students in Ft. Lauderdale, where they played in the orchestra at the Dillard High School of the Performing Arts. Classically trained, they developed a popular club act covering hip-hop songs on their string instruments and brought the act to the Apollo Theater in New York, which led to performances with Alicia Keys, Wyclef Jean, and others. The duo says its tour and their educational engagement work are “all about breaking stereotypes and bringing out the best in people through music.” At a Brooklyn College performance in late October, the audience was packed with everyone from students and hip-hop fans to families with children, holding up cellphones rock-concert-style.
