Mari Black and her trio make a pit stop at the BOP STOP in the middle of their Midwest tour. Catch this multi award winning fiddler in a one-night-only engagement!

Multistyle violinist and champion fiddler MARI BLACK is rapidly building a reputation as one of the most dynamic young artists of her generation. Her energetic playing, engaging stage presence, and commitment to bringing people together through music have made her a favorite with audiences across the country and around the world. Equally at home in a wide variety of musical traditions, Mari is the 2015/2013 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, 2014 Glenfiddich Scottish Fiddle Champion, 2014/2012 Canadian Maritime Fiddle Champion, 2011 Canadian Novelty Fiddle Champion, 1st Prize Winner at the 2010 American Protégé International String Competition, and 2-time laureate at the American String Teachers’ Association Alternative Styles Awards. On stage, she creates shows that draw on elements from many different styles including jazz, tango, folk, Western classical, as well as Celtic, American, and Canadian fiddling. Her performances take listeners on a musical journey exploring the diversity and celebrating commonalities in the dance-driven folk musics of the world.

An internationally-recognized performer, Mari can be seen playing in all corners of the musical world. She has been featured at Scottish Highland Games, Celtic festivals, celebrated folk venues, jazz concert series, Argentine tango festivals, and world-famous classical concert venues including Carnegie Hall. Mari has appeared with such diverse artists as Irish fiddle champion Liz Carroll, Americana master Mark O’Connor, and jazzman Willie Ruff. Her music has been heard on the BBC Radio Scotland’s “Take the Floor”, Fox and CBS morning news, NPR’s “Here and Now,” WGBH Radio’s “A Celtic Sojourn”, and on dozens of other Celtic and folk radio shows across the country. Mari has been a featured performer at many prominent festivals and concert series, including the Blackstone River Theater's Solstice Fest in Rhode Island, the Austin Celtic Festival in Texas, the Saltwater Celtic Festival in Maine, the Yachats Celtic Festival in Oregon, the Boston Celtic Music Festival, the Fire in the Kitchen concert series in Connecticut, the Sam Hinton Folk Festival and the San Diego Folk Heritage Society in southern California, Brian O’Donovan’s “Burren Backroom” series in Boston, and a sold-out northeast tour with New England Celtic Arts.

Dedicated to education, Mari presents frequent outreach concerts and workshops at schools, conferences, festivals, fiddle camps, and universities. She has taught at the renowned Jink and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling, the Mark O’Connor fiddle camp, the Julian Family Fiddle Camp, and the long-standing Kinhaven Music School. Guest workshops include sessions at the Yale School of Music, the Acadic Trad School, Boston University School of Fine Arts, “Make Music Day” San Diego, New York City’s School for Strings, and the American String Teachers’ Association national conference. Recently, Mari served as Professor of Music at Bunker Hill Community College, where she developed the framework for a new multistyle music program that produced ground-breaking interdisciplinary arts performances. She currently teaches workshops around the country as a part of her touring schedule, and coaches privately in her hometown of Boston.

Mari’s debut album, “Flight”, was released in the spring of 2014, and features dance-driven music from around the world. She is currently touring nationally with her World Fiddle Ensemble and Celtic Band, performing and celebrating diverse styles of traditional and modern dance music.

Featuring:

• Mari Black, Violin
• Conor Hearn, Guitar
• Joe Magar, Bass

http://www.mariblack.com/