The Surry Arts Council received a grant from South Arts to host the Sons of Mystro for two performances in the spring of 2021. A daytime performance will target middle and high school students, and an evening performance will be open to the public.
Born in South Florida to a Jamaican father and Barbadian mother, Malcolm, 23, and his 20-year old brother, Umoja, learned to play violin through South Florida’s public school system. They attended Dillard High School for the Performing Arts. Together, these brothers are Sons of Mystro. This pair of violin virtuosos use their violins to interpret reggae classics, American pop songs, and their own creations accompanied by a DJ and a drummer.
Their music journey began when Malcolm was enrolled at Bethune Elementary, a magnet school located in Hollywood, Florida. He gained interest in music at that time but was pushed toward the violin by his third grade teacher. She told him “if you play the violin in my class, you can go to Disney World,” Malcolm said. After he took up the violin, Umoja wanted to follow in his older brother’s footsteps and took up the violin as well. Their father realized the duo’s talent when they played in Umoja’s middle school talent show.
Their dad was DJ Mystro in his early years, thus the Sons of Mystro name was chosen to carry on the family legacy. They have played for many events and with many well-known musicians but their most surreal experiences are collaborating with Black Violin, an American hip-hop group that primarily plays the violin as well. Black Violin played in Mount Airy for area schools several years ago. Black Violin was a major influence on this group from its beginnings. Those who hear them say their violins sing in many genres.
Sons of Mystro are the winners of the Emerging Artist under 21 Years Old award at International Reggae and World Music Awards. Their debut recording, “Reggae Strings” is available. “These artists are stars on the rise. Our proteges, Sons of Mystro, are an innovative musical force that is ready to take the world by storm,” says their mentors, Black Violin.
These performances are sponsored in part by a grant from South Arts. South Arts is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts as well as other public and private sources.
Source: https://www.mtairynews.com