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Fri, Aug 17 2018

Ode to the Black Fiddler,

New York, New York, United States New York, New York, United States

  • About the event

    Our first event was such a success, we're trying to make it happen every year!

    "Ode to the Black Fiddler" is an afternoon of live music and communion that engages the community and unifies string performers of color across all genres of music. This diverse and thoughtfully-curated line-up constructs a new and vibrant string-music culture, one that eliminates the long withstanding elitist stigma.

    This summer 2018, we're producing a larger venue where music companies, organizations and local businesses will vend and engage with attendees.

    Why should you sponsor?

    Public Benefit

    Wealth often determines how well families can provide for themselves when it comes to basics like food and shelter. It's even harder to invest in cultural activities for yourself and/or your family when means are limited. OBF takes place in a community considered to be underrepresented, a food desert, and that lacks access to critical resources that allow the community to be healthy, well-rounded, contributing members of society.

    Although OBF is rooted in supporting string musicians of color by providing performance opportunities and a platform for exposure, we also understand the larger commitment and responsibility to communities that are without avenues for cultural enrichment.

    OBF creates an accessible space where the community can come together, engage in the performing arts and be immersed in a dynamic genre of music not familiar in our neighborhoods: String-music.

    Futhermore, OBF seeks to expose these musicians to a community that desperately needs to witness people who look like them, achieving a level of success that can be obtained by anyone who first is introduced to this arena and then is committed to doing the work.  

    Why should you support this event? Because support is Needed!


    Iymaani Abdul-Hamid

    Iymaani Abdul-Hamid is the Founder and Educator-in-Chief of IAH Studio--a music school and lifestyle brand that represents the unique and effervescent narrative of string musicians of color. IAH Studio provides low cost music education and live events featuring professional string musicians of color to NYC communities in order to inspire and motivate youth to learn a string instrument.

    Music has been a prevalent part of Iymaani's life since she was six years old when she first learned how to play the violin. She was one out of 50 students selected from the entire student body of her elementary school to study the violin with teacher Roberta Guispari. At a very young age, Iymaani had the opportunity to perform at note worthy arenas such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City while working with Guispari. Iymaani became an extra in movies Music of the Heart starring Marryl Streep, a film based on Roberta Guispari's life, and Changing Lanes, staring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson. Iymaani was also selected, along with 10 other young violinists, to perform and travel with the Opus 118 School for Strings Performance Group under the direction of Guaspari to Florida and Cancun, Mexico.

    When Iymaani entered Junior High School at the Special Music School of America/Lucy Moses School, she switched to the viola. As a student of Viktor Basis, Iymaani participated in the Soesterberg International Music Festival in Holland. Her love for a rich and deeper sounding instrument lead her to continue her studies in viola performance throughout her high school and college career.

    As an undergraduate at New York University, Iymaani studied with Director of String Studies from the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, Stephanie Baer for three years. During the summer of her Freshman and Junior year at NYU, she participated in their Intensive String Quartet Workshop. Following her junior year, Iymaani traveled with Professor Baer to the Czech Republic where she participated and completed the 11th annual Dobrichovice Oboe and String Master Courses. In 2012, Iymaani completed her Bachelor's in Viola Performance, graduating Cum Laude. Continuing her studies at NYU, Iymaani went on to complete her Master's in Music Education, studying at the time with principal violist of Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra in 2012, Shmuel Katz.

    Iymaani currently resides in the Bronx, NY--her place of birth and home for the last 28 years. 

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  • 51-100 attendees expected


    50% Male Attendees


    50% Female Attendees

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3 available packages from In Kind

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