I had a great time connecting with my former teacher, the legendary cello pedagogue on faculty at The Juilliard School, for a LIVE online conversation last night presented by ArtistWorks. You can check out our conversation on cello, teaching, and music on Facebook or YouTube!
Read MoreOn November 3, I was interviewed by WBUR, Boston’s NPR affiliate, to talk about Play For the Vote’s musical performances on Election Day. They broadcast it around the country via All Things Considered, helping to spread our positive message of using music to help unify people. You can listen HERE!
Read MoreScheduled to hit local news programs across the country, the AP produced a story on Play for the Vote and filmed me talking and playing music at a playground near my home :)
Watch HERE!
Read MoreI did a live on-air interview for WGN Chicago with PLAY FOR THE VOTE performer Paula Johannsen, who performed for Early Voters in Chicago on Saturday.
You can watch HERE!
We are working hard to spread the word! Musicians can sign up now to play on election day at PlayForTheVote.com
Read MoreThanks to the Boston Globe for interviewing me about my new album, as well as spreading the word about Play For the Vote! Read the full article HERE.
Read MoreTODAY is release day for my new album, The Edge of the Atmosphere, and it's now available everywhere you get music, even Spotify ... although you can buy it, too! :) Yesterday, a feature article came out in American Songwriter with the generous headline “Mike Block Exemplifies True Musicianship On New Record”. YOU can get yourself a copy HERE . American Songwriter goes on to say “the record captures a truly exciting blend of world-class classical musicianship, undeniable pop hooks, and a genuinely dazzling sense of musical collaboration.” Full article HERE.
Read MoreI will be playing a bunch of original songs LIVE for YOU this Saturday, Oct 24 at 8:30p ET in celebration of my new album release this weekend! Hope to see you through the screen! :)
You can watch via https://www.facebook.com/BlockCello/ or https://www.youtube.com/user/BlockCello/live
Read MoreToday we are premiering a gorgeous new music video for my song "Hills of Arkansas", illustrated by my longtime friend and collaborator, Kevork Mourad, for the release of the 3rd and final single from my upcoming album of original songs, The Edge of the Atmosphere, which will be released on Oct 23.
“Hills of Arkansas’ is inspired by an actual memory of a picture-perfect summer day of horseback riding in the Ozarks. The experience was so simple and so beautiful, that it left me with the lingering feeling that it was just too nice to be real - maybe I didn’t really belong, or even deserve to have such a luxurious experience. Contemplating that feeling made me wonder how I might react if I found myself in heaven, and what it means to really feel ‘at home’ somewhere.”
Read MoreTHIS Sunday at 3p ET, I’ll be hosting the virtual CelloBello Gala Fundraiser, featuring exclusive performances and conversation with 5 of the greatest cellists in the world: Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Alisa Weilerstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, and Pieter Wispelwey! Tickets at CelloBello.org
Read MorePLAY FOR THE VOTE is organizing musical performances at polling locations across the country on Election Day with the goal of increasing voter turnout by providing a more positive voting experience.
We just went public at www.PlayForTheVote.com, and are now accepting signups from musicians of all backgrounds who are interested in performing! Join us!
Read MoreYou can now listen to my new original songs “If I Can Help It” or “Tenfold” on Spotify!
Read MoreMy new album GUZO debuted at #9 on the Billboard Classical Crossover Chart! Its hard to complain about ranking behind Yo-Yo and fricking STAR WARS! get your copy of GUZO here: https://www.brightshiny.ninja/guzo
Read MoreGuzo is out now! Each cross-cultural composition on this album represents an artistic risk. We stretched the environment for the cello beyond traditional limitations through cultural juxtaposition, and I stretched my own compositional language and performance comfort zone too. I can't wait for you to hear it.
Please check it out and order yours today!
Read MoreYo-Yo and the renowned children’s entertainer Raffi teamed up for a brand new song, and asked me to write another arrangement for Yo-Yo to play - this time we went with a fun trio of parts to support Raffi’s beautiful message of gratitude in “For All You Do”. Listen Here.
Read MoreNew (and FINAL?!) Bach in the Bathroom video posted, of Prelude from the 6th Suite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMwvHAR4ZGE&feature=youtu.be I've now made it through all 36 movements in the bathroom BachInTheBathroom.com
Read MoreEarlier this month, over 200 participants from 13 countries joined 16 Faculty on Zoom for a week of activities and classes for the Mike Block String Camp ONLINE 2020 experience, and we are excited to share our remotely-collaborative music video that we filmed/edited during camp to commemorate our time together, and to pay tribute to our beloved friend/collaborator/teacher Emy Phelps, who passed away a few weeks before camp. We performed the Haitian song “Fey-O”, which Emy taught the MBSC vocal class in 2011, and we hope that this video helps continue the spreading of joy and love through music that was a hallmark of Emy’s life. This video includes 2020 MBSC Faculty Darol Anger, Natalie MacMaster, Casey Driessen, Hanneke Cassel, Natalie Haas, Joe K. Walsh, Trina Basu, Arun Ramamurthy, Lauren Rioux, Melissa Brun, Taylor Morris, Colin Cotter, and past teachers who knew Emy well: Kimber Ludiker, Clay Ross, and Jeremy Kittel.
Read MoreJUST RELEASED today! Yo-Yo Ma performs my zany multi-cello arrangement of the beloved children song with Raffi himself! :) Watch the video HERE.
Read MoreALL 16 Faculty-Artists performed for our our annual Scholarship Fundraising Faculty Concert. You can watch the whole concert HERE!
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