4/17/17: Tracy Silverman: the 21st Century Violin

Lauded by BBC Radio as “the greatest living exponent of the electric violin”, Tracy Silverman’s groundbreaking work has contributed significantly to the repertoire and development of the 6-string electric violin and the non-classical stylistic approach he calls “21^st century violin playing”. Formerly first violinist with the innovative Turtle Island String Quartet, Silverman was named one of 100 distinguished alumni by The Juilliard School. The New York Times, raved, “Fleet agility and tangy expressivity with wailing hints of Jimi Hendrix.”

In this presentation, Tracy will demonstrate his 6-string electric violin and discuss the development of the instrument, of his innovative “Strum Bowing” technique, and of his work to update the violin and bring it more fully into both our contemporary American pop musical culture and orchestral concert stages.