arts & entertainment

Since 2010, world-class musicians have gathered in Vero Beach to perform together in one-of-a-kind collaborations to benefit the Mike Block String Camp. In past years, the Vero Beach International Music Festival has hosted music/musicians from India, Quebec, Uruguay, Argentina, Portugal, Colombia, Mali, Puerto Rico, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and more. This year, the Treasure Coast will be treated to the Mike Block Trio, as the Vero Beach International Music Festival kicks off the first of two concerts on Thursday, January 8 at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. The church at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard will host a 7:30 PM performance with Mike Block, Grammy® Award-winning cellist, Joe K. Walsh on mandolin and Zachariah Hickman on bass. 

The Vero Beach International Music Festival will feature concert cello player, singer, and composer, Mike Block, who has been hailed as “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene” by Gramophone Magazine. The trio infuses American roots music with contemporary and international influences, bringing an exciting and personal perspective to the acoustic music scene. The audience will likely hear Hope on the Hill, a new suite of Frank-Lloyd-Wright-inspired music. Composed by Mike Block, the suite follows the story of Frank Lloyd Wright’s dramatic personal life, while drawing on the principles of his artistic philosophy. Tickets to the Vero Beach International Music Festival are $25 and can be pre-ordered online at Vero.Show or purchased at the door. Donations will also be accepted at the concert for the Mike Block String Camp Scholarship Fund. For more information, call 216-965-7593.   

Mike Block is a multi-style cello player, composer, singer, and educator, with a passion for cross-cultural collaborations. The annual International Music Festival helps fund another project for the Juilliard School graduate, the Mike Block String Camp in Vero Beach. A second concert on April 19 will feature Block and Scottish fiddler Hanneke Cassel, also to benefit his 2026 string camp.

“Our string camp in Vero Beach is an annual summer workshop for string players of all ages and backgrounds, focusing on non-classical traditions and contemporary musical styles,” said Block. “The performances at the International Music Festival help fund our scholarship program, with world class musicians the audience always enjoys.”

Online registration is now open for the 2026 Mike Block String Camp at www.mikeblockstringcamp.com, scheduled for July 6-11. Begun in 2010, MBSC provides level-based classes catering to college students, amateur adults, children and professionals, as well as high school and middle school students. In addition to serving locals from Vero Beach and across Florida, many participants come from throughout the United States and around the world. Past students have hailed from China, Singapore, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Latvia, and more.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Mike Block is a multi-style cello player, composer, singer, and educator, with a passion for cross-cultural collaborations. Hailed as “one of the bravest, most intriguing musicians on the American fusion scene.” (Gramophone Magazine), he was acclaimed by the New York Times for his “vital rich-hued solo playing”, and “a true artist… a sight to behold” by Salt Lake City Desert News. In addition to solo performances, Mike touring bands include Biribá Union, Mike Block Trio, duo with Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, and a West-African fusion band with Balla Kouyaté. Since 2005, Mike has been a member of the Silk Road Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma, with which he earned a 2017 Grammy® Award. More information about Mike Block is available on his website at www.mikeblockmusic.com. 

Joe K. Walsh is a Bluegrass mandolin player and singer known internationally as an exceptionally tasteful player from his work with the legendary Gibson Brothers band, which the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) has named winner of awards for Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Vocal Group of the Year, and Song of the Year. Joe has also released two recordings under his own name, featuring original compositions and vocals, as well as friend and legendary fiddler Darol Anger, with whom Joe regularly tours in the band Mr. Sun. After being the first mandolinist to graduate from the Berklee College of Music on that instrument, Joe returned to Berklee in 2011 as both a mandolin instructor and as Managing Director of the American Roots Music Program.

Zachariah Hickman is a double bassist, singer, multi-instrumentalist and producer based out of Boston, MA. Originally from Lynchburg, VA, he received his formal training in jazz performance and composition from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. For most of his adult life he has toured with singer-songwriter Josh Ritter, traveling all over the world and recording 7 full-length albums. Currently, he is performing as bassist and musical director for Ray Lamontagne. Television appearances include five David Letterman appearances, Conan O’brien, Ellen Degeneres, and Late Night with Jools Holland for the BBC. As a producer, Zachariah as made records with a number of talented singers, including Rose Cousins (for which he won a Canadian JUNO award), Mark Erelli, Laura Cortese, Miss Tess, and his own bluegrass band Barnstar! He has also produced and ringmastered his own circus, released his own brand of mustache wax, and runs a vaudeville style variety show, Zack Hickman’s House of Ill Repute.