SCV Performing Arts Center to Present Black Violin

 The Magazine of Santa Clarita is proud to feature Black Violin on our cover.
Genre-blending duo Black Violin will be bringing their fusion of hip-hop, classical and pop music to the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) at College of the Canyons on Friday, January 20, 2017.
The group consists of Florida-born, classically trained musicians Wilner Baptiste on viola and Kevin Sylvester on violin, accompanied by a backing band and ace turntable whiz DJ SPS.
One of Black Violin’s main goals is changing perception and defying stereotypes, both musical and social.  They enjoy changing people’s perception of what violin and hip-hop music can do, and hope their shows inspire listeners to be better people.
The two steadily gained attention for their unique musical style, grabbing national recognition after they performed with Alicia Keys at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards.  They went on to win the Showtime at the Apollo talent competition in 2005 and have released three full-length albums to date.  Their latest album Stereotypes was released in 2015 on Universal Music Classics, their first album released on a major label.
Black Violin, which got its name from an album by swing era jazz violinist Stuff Smith, have played for the troops in Iraq, at the President’s Inaugural Ball in Washington, and have collaborated with artists ranging from Kanye West to Tom Petty.
When Baptiste and Sylvester met in school, they didn’t have a strong interest in stringed instruments.  Baptiste wanted to learn saxophone but was put into a strings class during summer band camp, while Sylvester was encouraged to study music in the fifth grade by his mother.  Eventually they both grew to love classical music and went on to study it in college.
Tickets for Black Violin are priced from $40 to $60 per person.  The performance will take place at 8 p.m. on the PAC main stage.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the PAC Box Office at 661-362-5304 or visit www.canyonspac.com.

2017 Performing Arts Center Lineup

FEBRUARY 2017
• Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, 8 p.m.
COC Presents: Los Lobos
MARCH 2017
• Sunday, March 12, 2017, 4 p.m.
Santa Clarita Master Chorale: Classical Masterpieces
• Sunday, March 19, 2017, 7 p.m.
COC Cabaret Presents: David Burnham’s Broadway
• Friday, March 24, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
COC Music: Crank Up the Jazz!
• Friday & Saturday, March 24, 25, 31 and
April 2, 2017, 8 p.m. Sunday,
March 26 and April 2, 2017, 2 p.m.
COC Theatre: ‘Buzzer’
• Saturday, March 25, 2017, 7:30  p.m.
COC Music: Symphony of the Canyons – Bon Voyage
APRIL 2017
• Sunday, April 9, 2017, 3 p.m.
COC Presents: It’s Magic
• Friday & Saturday, April 28 & 29 and May 5 & 6, 2017, 8 p.m. Sunday, April 30 and May 7, 2017, 2 p.m.
COC Theatre: Bring It On The Musical
MAY 2017
• Friday, May 12, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
COC Music: Annual POPS! Concert
• Saturday, May 13, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
COC Music: Symphony of the Canyons –
‘In Celebration of Nature’
• Thursday, May 18, 2017, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 19, 2017, 8 p.m.
COC Dance: ‘May Dances’
• Saturday, May 20, 2017, 8 p.m.
COC Presents: Lily Tomlin
• Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 7 p.m.
Electronica Musique & Multimedia   Concert
JUNE 2017
• Wednesday, May 31, 2017, 7:30  p.m.
Thursday, June 1, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
Solopalooza
• Sunday, June 4, 2017, 4 p.m.
Santa Clarita Master Chorale: ‘Simple Gifts’
• Saturday, June 10, 2017, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Santa Clarita Ballet: ‘Alice in Wonderland’