Staff Report

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – South Florida’s stereotype breaking duo, Black Violin, is back home. Tonight (December 1), they will do a show at 8 p.m. in the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. Concert Hall at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $25.

The classically trained artists, Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester (violin) and Wilner “Wil B.” Baptiste (viola), blend the genres of classical, hip hop, rock, rhythm and blues and bluegrass. The eclectic duo studied music together at Fort Lauderdale’s historic Dillard High School. They’ve performed with stars such as Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Lupe Fiasco, Wu-Tang Clan and Aerosmith; as well as intrigued audiences ranging from guests at President Obama’s 2013 inaugural ball to unsuspecting airline passengers.

Recently, they were also brought in to help score the soundtrack for the new baseball drama, “Pitch,” which airs on Fox. The show centers on Ginny Baker (played by Kylie Bunbury) as the first woman to play major league baseball. Though fictional, Sylvester and Baptiste said they could relate to Baker’s character because they have redefined what a typical violinist looks like.

“It was the perfect thing for us,” Sylvester told the New York Daily News. “Ginny is breaking stereotypes and doing things you don’t associate a woman doing.”

The show at the Kravis Center is a part of the duo’s Unity Tour. When they announced the tour on their website, they wrote the following message to their fans:

“Through the message of Black Violin’s music, we’ve spent the last 10 years working to encourage and empower people of all ages, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds to find what connects us, rather than shine a light on what divides us. This past year alone, we’ve played for nearly 100,000 students and over 125 public shows across the US and Europe. We’ve taken this opportunity to spread a message that challenges the world’s view of what it means to rise above labels, be daring enough to follow their passion and most of all, be true to themselves. As black men living in America, we understand challenges and we also understand the power of “I can’t,” yet we decide to live by and promote the power of “I can.” We realize that every opportunity to connect our diverse fans is an opportunity to break down the barriers that separate us, empower individuality and encourage progress. Today, we are announcing our fall 2016 UNITY tour with concert dates throughout the US for our most energetic and inspired shows yet. #BLACKVIOLIN- UNITY”

The message ended with the promise they would see them soon. If you’d like to attend tonight’s show, visit www.blackviolin.net. Only Orchestra and Grand Tier sections available.