Black Violin strings audiences along with music from J.S. Bach to Cardi B at IU Auditorium

It's about exposure.

"Two percent of Black or brown people are studying classical music," said violinist Kev Marcus. He's half of the twice-Grammy-nominated classical violin-viola-vocals partnership, Black Violin. They come to the Indiana University Auditorium Feb. 25. He and Wil Baptiste (viola and vocals) will perform classical, hip-hop and other music from the past 400 years.

The two classically trained musicians were a "change of pace" for the many rappers with whom they toured, such as Jay-Z. In addition,"We worked with Ye (formerly Kanye West) a lot, when we were younger (early 2000s). You could see that he was a budding young genius with talent oozing out of him."

Black Violin plays classical — they particularly enjoy late Baroque and early classical —but they play plenty of current genres, too.

Baroque compositions tend to use a variety of independent tunes played at the same time, such as in a fugue. As the piano gained attention, "classical" music emerged. Think of Mozart (1756 -1791) and Beethoven (1770-1827). Big ranges and high notes became popular.

Listeners will hear Black Violin's affection for fugues' echos and braiding sections together. They'll hear, too, plenty of counterpoint, where two different melodies are played simultaneously.

"Our show is 100 minutes of fury and lights. It's the coolest musical set we've ever done," Marcus said.

Originals will blend with music from music greats such as Cardi B, Anita Baker and John Coltrane.

"We want people to say, when they leave our concert, 'I have never seen anything like that.'"

To make it, musicians must learn to create their own section of the highly competitive music industry, he said.

"We create our own ocean. Authenticity always wins. If you don't like us, go swim in Beyonce's ocean."

Deciding to make music a profession naturally produced plenty of anxiety. Both Marcus and Baptiste were athletic; Marcus playing football, Baptiste basketball. Strings finally topped sports, with intermissions superseding halftimes.

Marcus credits his having attended South Florida's Dillard High School with revving his desire to bow and trill. Dillard is Fort Lauderdale's first public school for people of African descent and integrates and improves education. The two men met there as students. In class, they learned classical technique; at home, they practiced hip-hop and R & B.

One day Marcus heard Stuff Smith's violin music. The idea of forming Black Violin began to emerge. According to StringsMagazine.com, jazz violinist Stuff Smith (Hezekiah Leroy Gordon) used to say, “Music starts where words leave off."

In 2005, Black Violin won a place on Showtime at the Apollo, later selling out performances at venues such as the Kennedy Center.

In 2019, Marcus and Baptiste started Black Violin Foundation, a nonprofit that brings high quality music programs to young people where they live. The foundation's first program, Musical Innovation Grant for Continuing Education, will give money to young students so that they can choose a musical program that appeals specifically to them.

One of Black Violin's albums "Take the Stairs" (2019), Baptiste says on YouTube, is about taking the hard road and accomplishing the impossible. And persevering.

Bloomington audiences should prepare to hear selections from J.S. Bach to the Temptations. And, of course, Cardi B.

If you go

WHAT: Black Violin, a classical and hip-hop violin and viola duo with vocals

WHEN: 8 p.m. Feb. 25

WHERE: Indiana University Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St.

TICKETS: $12-$55 at ticketmaster.com

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: From Bach to Cardi B, Black Violin to perform for IU Auditorium crowd