Origin Boston, MA, USA Role Singer Name Mike Block | Instruments Cello, Voice, Music group Silk Road Ensemble | |
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Born May 25, 1982 (age 41) ( 1982-05-25 ) Genres Classical, folk, jazz, fiddling, bluegrass, oldtime, rock, pop, blues, Scottish, Appalachian, Asian, Arabic Occupation(s) Cellist, Singer, Arranger, Composer, Record Producer, Associated acts Yo-Yo Ma, Silk Road Ensemble, Mark O'Connor, Darol Anger Education Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music Albums A Playlist Without Borders, Beyond the Horizons, Silk Road Journeys: When Str, Traditions And Transfor, New Impossibilities Similar People Hanneke Cassel, Rushad Eggleston, Yo‑Yo Ma, Cristina Pato, Colin Jacobsen | ||
Years active fl. ca. 2006–present | ||
Mark o connor tries out mike block s cello strap asta 2015
Michael Glen Block (born May 25, 1982) is an American cellist, singer, composer, arranger, and solo artist hailed as "the ideal musician of the twenty-first century" by cultural icon Yo-Yo Ma. Mike Block has worked with Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Lenny Kravitz, Shakira, The National, Joe Zawinul, Alison Krauss, Rachel Barton Pine, Mark O'Connor, and other notable musicians. Block currently plays with the Silk Road Ensemble. In January, 2014, Block married fiddler and composer Hanneke Cassel.
Contents
- Mark o connor tries out mike block s cello strap asta 2015
- Performances
- Summer Camps
- Teaching
- Discography
- Director of Music Festivals
- Collaborative projects
- Current ensemble member
- Former ensemble member of the following groups
- Televisionmovie credits
- Education
- Automobile accident
- Supporting links
- References
Performances
In addition to his solo performances and multiple duo collaborations, Block is most famous for playing second cello alongside Yo-Yo Ma. He also performed in Mark O'Connor's Appalachia Waltz trio for three years. His performances have been described as "vital, rich-hued solo playing" by the New York Times, and "a true artist ... a sight to behold" by the Salt Lake City Deseret News.
Summer Camps
In 2009 Block founded The Mike Block String Camp, which takes place in Vero Beach, Florida. Teachers provide instruction in multiple traditions, develop improvisational skills, and coach student bands in preparation for public performances.
In 2012 Block started the Brooklyn Pop String Camp in NYC, which aims to nurture young children's passion for playing music they like to listen to.
Teaching
In 2012, Block was appointed Associate Professor of Music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, USA.
A frequent guest lecturer, Mr. Block has also presented at Stanford University, Princeton University, Harvard University, New York University, Berklee College of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, Belmont University, Southern Methodist University, Sam Houston State University, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and University of Arkansas. In 2006, he received Suzuki method certification in music education from the New York City-based School for Strings, under Pamela Devenport.
From 2009 -2012, Mike was the Lead Teaching Artist for Silk Road Connect, a partnership between the Silk Road Project and schools in New York City and Boston areas.
Discography
Director of Music Festivals
Mike created the Vero Beach International Music Festival in 2014, which features performances by students and faculty of the Mike Block String Camp.
From 2011–2012, Mike was the Artistic Director and host of GALA Brooklyn: "Global Art - Local Art:", a Music Festival in Brooklyn featuring a diverse array of musicians and artists in unique collaborations. Notable guests include Anthony Mcgill (Metropolitan Opera), Aoife O’Donovan (singer for Crooked Still), Aaron Dugan (guitarist for Matisyahu), Multi-genre violinist/composer Todd Reynolds, Grammy-Nominated classical artists Anastasia Khitruk (violin), and the Enso Quartet, Marcus Printup from Jazz at Lincoln Center, and jazz saxophonist Seamus Blake, and singer-songwriter Amy Correia.
Mike Block has also served as musical director to cellist Yo-Yo Ma, singer Bobby McFerrin, ballet star Damien Woetzel, jookin dancer Lil’ Buck, actor/comedian Bill Irwin, jazz trumpeter Marcus Printup, world-music group The Silk Road Ensemble, and classical orchestra The Knights.
Collaborative projects
Duo with Rachel Barton Pine, Classical Violinist
Duo with Sandeep Das, Indian Tabla Player
Duo with Balla Kouyate, Balafon player from Mali
Duo with Clay Ross, guitarist and singer
Duo with Hanneke Cassel, Celtic fiddler
Duo with Yang Wei, Chinese Pipa player
Duo with Darol Anger, Mult-genre fiddler
Mike Block has also performed with notable musicians such as Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall, Zakir Hussain, My Brightest Diamond, St. Vincent, Bon Iver, Tim O’Brien, Marcel Khaliffe, Goran Bregovic, Kayhan Kalhor and Bruce Molsky.
Past Projects:
Mike Block Band: Featuring Mike Block (cello), Kyle Sanna (guitar), Mat Fieldes (bass), and Damien Bassman (drums) .
Triborough Trio: Featuring Mike Block (cello), Hans Holzen (guitar), and Kyle Kegerreis (bass)
Current ensemble member
Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble
Former ensemble member of the following groups
Television/movie credits
He has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, National Public Radio's St. Paul Sunday, Regis and Kelly, VH1, the Disney Channel, WNBC-TV with Chuck Scarborough, and the CBS Early Show.
Mike has also worked with director Yaron Zilberman as a Music Consultant for "A Late Quartet", a 2011 movie starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Christopher Walken.
Education
Bachelor of Music: 2004. Cleveland Institute of Music Primary Teacher: Richard Aaron Received 2004 Jim Hall Prize for Undergraduate Achievement
Master of Music: 2006. The Juilliard School Primary Teachers: Joel Krosnick, Darrett Adkins
Suzuki Pedagogy: 2006. School For Strings, NYC Primary Teacher: Pamela Devenport
Appointed Associate Professor by The Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, in Fall 2012.
Automobile accident
On April 4, 2009, Mike Block was struck by a NYC taxi while walking at the corner of W85th St. and West End Ave, in Manhattan. Injuries included broken rib, jaw, cheek, nose, and he lost nine teeth. His reconstruction required multiple surgeries; his missing teeth were restored on February 15, 2012.
Supporting links
GALA NYC links:
Wall Street Journal article:
MBSC links:
RANDOM LINKS/REVIEWS:
Silk road interview: