Heights ensemble Elégie to perform at Cain Park

Elégie members Mist'a Craig, Caleb Wright, Michael Hives and Brian Barron.

The male vocal quartet Elégie, four young men who met while they were students in Heights High's Vocal Music Department, will open the show for Black Violin at Cain Park on Friday, Aug. 14, at 7 p.m.

Elégie members Caleb Wright, Brian Barron, Mist’a Craig and Michael Hives began singing together four years ago. Each is classically trained and performs in numerous ensembles and chorales, including the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.

All four young men sing both tenor and alto, with Barron and Hives providing baritone and Craig and Wright slipping easily into soprano. Despite their young age, they display a surprising range of vocal talent, especially when Wright leaves the upper registers to provide deeper bass harmonies than expected for a singer his age.

Although Elégie has performed at churches, schools and clubs all over Northeast Ohio, their fan base grew significantly after the group appeared on the WJW-Fox 8 "Morning Jukebox News" program in 2013.

Their repertoire of barbershop, smooth jazz, gospel, rock and R & B should prepare the Cain Park audience for Black Violin’s signature blend of classical, hip-hop, rock and bluegrass.

“[Black Violin] saw a video of us performing on YouTube and requested Elégie for their opening act,” Wright said. “I think our background, and our motto of 'Bach to Boyz II Men,' struck a chord with them.”

Black Violin features classically trained viola and violin players Wil B and Kev Marcus, who met while playing in their high school orchestra. The pair describes their music as a blend of highbrow and pop culture—everything from “Brandenburg” to breakdown.

Besides making uplifting music, Black Violin is committed to mentoring young fans. According to the duo's website, they appear regularly at schools, “where they constantly stress the importance of arts education.”

Elégie will also perform on Saturday, Aug. 15, when it provides the music for Forest Hill Presbyterian Church’s annual Outdoor Worship service, at 3031 Monticello Blvd. in Cleveland Heights. The service will begin at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a free community supper.