February 01, 2023

Media availability with SIU alum, “Michael Jordan of the violin”

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — As Southern Illinois University Carbondale celebrates Black History Month, Lee England Jr., a triple alumnus who is known as “The Michael Jordan of the violin” will bring his captivating performance to campus during the kickoff event at 5:30 p.m. today, Feb. 1, in the Student Center Auditorium.

Lee-England.jpgEngland will also be available to the media for interviews prior to his appearance, from 1 to 3 p.m., in Room 126 of the Student Services Building. Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to chat with England, and he can share about his journey and success as a Black musician whose career SIU helped launch.

England earned degrees in music performance, music education and music business in 2002 at SIU. Also known as “The Soul Violinist,” he earned the Jordan accolade from the Michael Jordan of Chicago Bulls fame. Classically trained, England plays a wide variety of musical styles, including rhythm and blues, hip-hop and soul on the violin, cello, bass, guitar, drums and piano, and he sings as well. He’s been affiliated with such accomplished musicians as Sean “Diddy” Combs and Quincy Jones, has performed halftime shows in dozens of NBA arenas and composed music for and starred in an NFL Super Bowl LXVII commercial.

England also led violin vigils for Elijah McClain, a Black massage therapist from Colorado who died after a 2019 encounter with police, and his clients include the NAACP, BET and more, including various organizations and college and professional athletic teams.

For more information, contact Renada Greer, executive director of the Student Multicultural Resource Center and Trio Programs, at renadag@siu.edu or 618-453-1702.