Spotlight: Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)

“From rock clubs to symphony halls, the composer, musician, and performer Daniel Bernard Roumain seems unstoppable.”  -New York Sun

Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)

Before Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) was a nationally known violinist performing with Lady Gaga and Philip Glass, he started out as most of us do. Just trying to figure out who we are. While many musicians conform to set genre lines and follow the rules for their specific instrument, Roumain did the opposite. "What I set out to do was make the violin more reflective of who I am, and what I'm into," Roumain told NPR.  

Along the way he asked himself more questions: "Where does blackness come into play in the violin - and more than that, where does hip-hop come in?" The answers are in the music. So if you thought that the classical violin could never touch hip-hop, dance, and African rhythms, you’re about to be proven wrong.

Besides erasing genre lines, Roumain also challenges the inherent qualities of the violin. The violin is classified as a stringed instrument, where sound is generated from the vibration of strings across a soundboard or soundbox. But Roumain proves that the violin can also be a percussion instrument, where sound is generated by striking one object against another.

In the above video, Roumain states, “I feel it’s my responsibility and obligation to get out into the schools and talk about music.” The next schools Roumain will visit are those in Northwest Colorado. Roumain will act as Strings Music Festival’s Artist-in-Residence for the Strings School Days program through May of 2013. Next week, Roumain will visit schools in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, Oak Creek, and Craig and conduct field trips at the Strings Music Pavilion. During his time here he will meet students, introduce his unique approach to music, and guide music ensembles through a new learning process.

Live Music in Steamboat

Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) will perform a Free Concert at the Strings Music Pavilion on Friday, May 11th at 7:00pm. Tickets will be available Friday evening outside the Pavilion starting at 6:00pm and the doors open at 6:30pm. There are no advance ticket reservations.

Strings School Days Field Trips

Thurs, 5/10 - 10:15-11:00am: Strawberry Park, Soda Creek, and South Routt
Thurs, 5/10 - 1:00-1:45pm: Strawberry Park and Soda Creek Elementary Schools
Fri, 5/11 - 10:00-10:45am: Steamboat Springs Middle and High Schools

All field trips are held at the Strings Music Pavilion and are free and open to the public.