John Violinist
Bushnell Theater for Performing Arts
Hartford
Nov. 7, 2026
Connecticut’s very own John Violinist took over the stage at the Bushnell Saturday evening for a show that had the packed auditorium rocking from beginning to end.
John Violinist concerts must be seen firsthand, but the best way to describe it is like a high-end buffet that offers something for everyone, regardless of their tastes.
John been playing the instrument since the age of 5. His is especially adept at converting popular music to his style; his technique essentially transforms the violin into a voice, capturing the cadence and texture of human vocals and combining them with the precision his instrument affords over the sound.
When he performed “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic Saturday night, it sounded like Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak were in the room, in violin form.
John’s performances aren’t just concerts, but multimedia, genre-bending spectacles. John has also mastered the visual art of performing, contorting and moving his body along with the music to emphasize different parts of the songs. He dances around the stage, and literally brings the music to the people, walking through the aisles to give the audience members a close up look at his skills.
An interview featuring John Violinist discussing the Bushnell show
The stage lit up at the Bushnell with images and videos from the songs he covers. When a guest performer went into “Somebody to Love Me,” Whitney Houston joined in from the memorable video, '80s hair and fluorescent lipstick the perfect visual companion to the singing.
Which leads to another element John Violinist offered – a generous performer who gives his audience the chance to experience other musicians, and them the chance to shine on his stage. He invited Corey Staggers, a New Haven-based saxophonist, to join him, and Staggers made the most of his stage time. He serenaded women with his saxophone play, and brought the room to its feet.
The concert also featured LVW and Noir Groove, a trio of bassist Lawrence V. White, Nate Rodriguez on percussion, Gary “Skillet” Smith on drums and special guest Simone Monet on vocals. John Violinist took a step back and let his collaborators shine, dancing along with the crowd.
From the music to the showmanship to the multimedia experience, John Violin put on a show that had people still buzzing as they left the Bushnell. His contemporary take on the classical is creative and fun, another example of the kind of homegrown talent Connecticut has to offer.
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