Performing September 18, 2011 at Bentley University’s Wilder Pavilion. Get directions »

The dynamic “MarNai” duo made their debut in New York City in the fall of 2007 at the NewYork Performing arts Library. Since then this duo comprised of Violinists Mariana Green-Hill and Naira Underwood has wowed audiences with their programs of traditional classicalrepertoire along with brilliant unconventional arrangements of Arias, Negro Spirituals,Gospel and other genres of popular tunes done with a classical touch. Their mission isto bridge the gap between the know conventional form of violin duo to another level byperforming pieces in different genres that are known around the world and yet havemeaning for both of these artists. The duo has primarily commissioned arrangements ofmusic from a fellow violinist and composer, John LittleJohn who adds the element of Gospeland Spiritual to the traditional repertoire. After a performance of a group of excerptsfrom Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, arranged by LittleJohn arranged exclusively for the duo,including “Summer Time”, “Bess You Is My Woman Now” and “It Aint Necessarily So” criticsstated “They were so brilliantly played by Green-Hill and Underwood that one did not missthe presence of the original singing voices”.
The MarNai duo has had the distinct honor of performing for Presidential Candidate Obamain partnership with the Black Pearl chamber orchestra in 2008 as well as performingalongside other musicians in Jordan Hall in a program called “National Anthem, ClassicalMusicians Unite to Elect Barak Obama”.
The MarNai duo has a vested interest in the education of youth in classical music, especiallythose who might be considered in the minority. As educators within the Boson and NewYork communities, Mariana Green-Hill as Director/Founder and Naira Underwood asArtistic Director co-produce of a summer music program apply named, Four StringsAcademy. This program works to strengthen the classical roots within their communities atlarge serving approximately 45 students with a very diverse faculty from 2-4 weeks duringthe summer months.
Holding Violin Performance degrees from both the Juilliard School and the Mannes Collegeof Music and NYU, this duo possesses a very distinctive style along with a very diverserepertoire. The MarNai duo brings something very unique to the concert experience forevery audience member while aiming to educate its listeners about the historic prospective
within the community at large.