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Small Wishes Come True: Live at the Lakefront


Have you seen the photos from the opening event for the new Columbia Association performance space at the Lakefront? Or perhaps you were present for the event?

You know how opening events are. Speeches, local notables, chairs lined up neatly for invited guests, celebratory signage and decoration, the photo-friendly ribbon cutting…You’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all. Right?

But, wait. The violinist. Could it be?



Yes! It was. 


Marvillous Beats. 

In 2020 I discovered a local performer through a tweet and wrote about him in The Beat Goes On.

The video shows a young Black man playing violin near Vantage House* in Town Center, I believe. He is accompanied by a backing track. Would you call this style jazz violin? I think so. He is very, very good. 

I was curious, so I looked him up.

Marvillous Beats is the performance name of a Laurel-based violinist Marvill L. Martin. (He is also a composer, actor, and audio engineer, according to his website bio.) 

The violinist playing the debut performance on the new Lakefront Stage? That’s him. Marvillous Beats.




I had the honor of debuting the new Columbia Association Lake Front Stage after the ribbon cutting ceremony & The first performance on this stage of many many to come for generations

My new album CHILLED VIOLIN 2 is coming soon!

You may be wondering why this is such a big deal to me. Well, in a later blog post, (September 2021) when I was discussing “locally renowned musicians”, I made a sort of suggestion:

And one more thing from yesterday’s post. When I think of a renowned local musician in Columbia/HoCo, the name Damon Foreman comes to mind.  What about you? Mr. Foreman has played at those Lakefront Concerts pretty regularly. I’d also love to see Alan Scott Band, Marvillous Beats, JayMoney Hackett…

Update: an astute reader pointed out Lavenia Nesmith as a renowned local musician and now I am going to go soak my head in milk because I can’t believe I blanked on that. She is fabulous!

Lakefront Concerts. Marvillous Beats.

Do you see it?

About a week before that particular post I commented on a letter to the editor in the Flier entitled “Columbia Lakefront Concerts Lack Diversity.”

I feel as though CA did take that letter and similar community feedback to heart. Recent Lakefront programming has represented diverse musical styles. 

But realizing that the first performer to play on the new Lakefront Stage was the musician I chanced upon, quite by accident, through a tweet - - it honestly gave me a little thrill. I don’t know why, exactly. None of this had anything to do with Village Green/Town² and yet I feel as pleased as if it had been accomplished specifically for me. 

As delightful as a present wrapped up with a bow. Well, maybe a violin bow.

You can keep up with Marvillous Beats on Instagram. For up to date info on this season’s Lakefront Live, visit the Columbia Association website.




*Now called The Residences at Vantage Point 



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  1. Julia A. McCreadyMay 12, 2026 at 4:10 AM

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