Hip-hop goes classical at string academy
BY CHRISTINA M. WOODS
The Wichita Eagle
Wichita students were amazed Friday when they heard hip-hop music like 50 Cent's "In Da Club" rise from violin, viola and cello strings.
The fingers skillfully intertwining classical and hip-hop rhythms belonged to members of the Young Eight, a professional group of African-American classical musicians from top music schools nationwide.
The octet, in town to perform for Chamber Music at the Barn, spent three hours with the 40 African-American students of the Northeast Area Strings Academy of Wichita. They practiced and talked together. Some octet members even performed with students Friday night during dinner before the concert.
It was the first time in the academy's 14 years that African-American string players from outside Wichita have worked with the group.
"What we hope is just for these kids to interact with the string players and see that there is the possibility beyond high school of continuing to play, whether it's in the local orchestra or beyond," said Kay Buskirk, academy director.
Academy first-timer Mikaela White, 11, said seeing the group was the motivation she needed to keep playing violin.
"Who knows," White said, "Maybe one day I could be a member of the Young Eight."
Quinton Morris, founder and artistic and executive director of the Young Eight, said that is the kind of reaction the octet loves to receive.
"Some black people look at us and say we're trying to be white or that we're not being true to our race because we're excelling," said Morris, 29, who founded the Young Eight in 2002. "It makes us want to work harder.
"It gives us more of a reason to be role models because the black community is not used to having role models, especially in this genre."
Tiffany Lake, 12, and her friend Kelsie Smith, 12, said they're already experimenting with the Young Eight's style on their violins.
"I've already picked up 'Ay Baby,' just from the way they were playing," Lake said of a popular hip-hop song.
Jasmine Magee, 12, learned how to hold a conversation using her cello from Young Eight cellists Caleb Jones and Tahirah Whittington.
The two worked with Jasmine to play more smoothly.
"Music is like any language," Magee said. "If you put commas, semi-colons or periods after every word, you don't have a sentence.
"If you stop your bow, you won't have phrases."
"You talk with your bow," Whittington said.
By the end of the session, Jasmine's playing was smoother, richer and deeper.
"They helped me with my rhythm," Jasmine said. "They helped me make the audience understand."
Reach Christina M. Woods at 316-269-6791 or cwoods@wichitaeagle.com.