“With more than 100,000 Instagram followers and a thriving YouTube channel, the 26-year-old [violist Drew] Forde hopes to be dubbed the Neil deGrasse Tyson of classical music,” writes Carly Lanning on Wednesday (10/11) at Thrillist.com. “Forde began playing the viola at age 12…. Forde … was accepted into Georgia’s All-Star Orchestra [and] the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program, which provided him with funding for summer festivals, auditions, and private lessons…. While working on his bachelor’s in viola performance at Mercer University, Forde decided to dive into the world of Instagram…. He gave himself the moniker ThatViolaKid (TVK) and started the #PlayHomiePlay hashtag to inspire musicians to upload short clips of themselves playing passionately and authentically.… Forde started his YouTube channel in 2015, following his graduation from Juilliard…. The social media strategy is paying off. For the next year, Forde is booked solid…. He currently has his sights set on reaching one million YouTube subscribers, and eventually using this social media influence to open a content creation agency that will provide resources for aspiring musicians.” Says Forde, “I can be the guy where people are like, ‘Of course black people play string instruments, because Drew Forde does it!’ ”
Posted October 13, 2017
