Gulfport native is a popular violinist using ‘God-given gift’ to inspire youth
Whether you’re looking for a gospel, jazz, blues or classical sound, Bruce Kirkwood can make it happen on his violin.
The Gulfport native, who goes by Bruce the Violinist, has performed across the country, from Phoenix to New York City, and has nearly 10,000 fans on his Facebook page.
He’s also a vocalist and plays the drums.
“It is really a God-given gift. I’ve literally had every reason for me not to be here doing what I’m doing,” Kirkwood said.
Kirkwood long battled a severe case of stage fright. It started when he was playing in the strings program at Bayou View Elementary School and stayed with him until a few years ago.
“I would practice for several months, and when it came down to it, I’d be so nervous and so discouraged. I literally had to seek out advice and search online for ways to overcome stage fright. This is no exaggeration. And the only advice I was able to find said to just keep playing and pushing through it.”
But the advice paid off.
Being present and in the moment has helped elevate Kirkwood’s performances. It has even landed him a gig at an upcoming Houston Rockets NBA event.
“Being able to deliver everything that I feel to my audience and hear how it affects them is what it’s all about for me. ... People come back to me and say, ‘Hey, I’m going through chemo treatments and your music made me feel alive again.’ Or, ‘Hey, your music brought back sweet memories of my friend who was a violinist and has passed away.’”
But Kirkwood’s “ministry of music” isn’t just for his clients or those who catch him performing at events. He plays for the next generation of violinists who probably aren’t used to seeing a black man behind a violin.
“Because of where we are geographically, it catches people off guard. But I was able to find role models in the industry that looked like me, and I think that’s so important. It’s a reminder that yes you can do this, even though you look like me.”
He says being a black violinist makes him unique because it challenges people’s thoughts of what a violinist should look like.
“As I’m performing, I see a lot of people come up to me and just kind of look at me and try to figure out what’s going on. It’s something completely new to them. It’s already a unique craft, and then you mix it with the fact that I’m black and have an athletic build ... it just confuses some people.”
Kirkwood believes diversity is important in every field. He hopes his craft will show black youths and others that there’s no limit to what you can do.
“I want to be an example of something they can become. If not a black violinist, you can be something else that isn’t typical to your culture. Nothing is impossible.”
To hear more of Kirkwood’s music or for booking information, check out his Facebook page at Facebook.com/BruceTheViolinist or his website at BruceKirkwood.com
This story was originally published December 2, 2019 at 4:00 AM.
