Wil-B and Kev Marcus, also known as the Black Violin, played for our very own Middle School Orchestra! The dynamic duo is made up of two classically trained musicians, who threw in some spice to a couple of classical pieces.
On Monday, October 20th, the Middle School Orchestra went to Suny Purchase Performing Arts Center to watch the lifelong violinists perform their show. Ms. Adrienne Fuller, the Middle School Orchestra teacher who ran the trip commented, “It all started when I got a flyer in the mail from the college telling me to go see “The Black Violin.” From there she wrote a grant to the school, and it was accepted with enthusiasm. Then, on that Monday, the orchestra set off to go see “The Black Violin” perform.
“The Black Violin” created their group because they wanted to think outside of the box. Who would have ever thought that a piece of classical music could be transformed into a cool, hip-hop arrangement?
In the performance, WilB and Kev did their most well known arrangement called “Dirty Orchestra”- a retake of a piece composed by Bach named Brandenburg Concerto. The two also played covers of “Treasure”, by Bruno Mars, “Radioactive”, by Imagine Dragons, and other pop songs turned hip-hop.
WilB plays a viola named “Tiffany”, and Kev plays an electric violin that can be changed into different sounding instruments or styles through a control pad at his feet. Normally, Kev would play the melody, and WilB would accompany. In harmony, the two of them made amazing music.
Everyone said that the 45 minute bus ride was definitely worth it. Said one concert attendee,“It was an unforgettable, amazing, hip-hop concert.”