Ezinma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ezinma
Ezinma in 2021
Background information
Birth name	Meredith Ezinma Ramsay
Born	(1991-01-11) January 11, 1991 (age 34) Lincoln, Nebraska
Genres	hip hop, classical
Occupation(s)	Violinist composer model educator
Instruments	Violin
Years active	2016–present
Labels	Universal Music Classics

Meredith Ezinma Ramsay (born January 11, 1991), known as Ezinma, is an American violinist and model. She is also a music teacher and writes music for movies. Ezinma was born in Lincoln, Nebraska.

She became very popular online in 2017. This happened after she played a violin version of the song "Mask Off" by the rapper Future. She also performed with Beyoncé at her 2018 Coachella concert. In 2020, Ezinma began releasing her own music as a solo artist. She signed with Universal Music Classics.

Life and Music

Early Years

Ezinma was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her father is from Guyana, and her mother is German-American. Her father teaches about numbers and risks. Her mother writes books and teaches English.

Ezinma started playing the violin when she was only three years old. She kept playing it all through school. In junior high, she often felt alone. She was usually the only Black classical musician on stage. She did not meet another Black string musician until she was 13.

As a child, she listened to many types of music. Her father played funk, reggae, jazz, and Caribbean soca. Her mother introduced her to Americana music.

College and Moving to New York

Ezinma went to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She first studied to become a doctor. Later, she changed her major to music. At university, Ezinma formed a group with strings and piano. She learned a lot from the Chiara String Quartet.

In 2012, Ezinma moved from Nebraska to New York. She studied at Mannes School of Music. This school helped her think beyond the usual rules of classical music. Ezinma started making music that included her violin playing and her singing.

Becoming Famous Online

In 2016, Ezinma began sharing videos of her violin playing online. Her first video was a short clip of Adele's song "Hello" on Instagram. During this time, Ezinma also released her own songs. These included "Elevate Me" in 2016 and "Give It Up" in 2017.

In April 2017, Ezinma posted a violin cover of Future's song "Mask Off." This was part of a popular online challenge. Ezinma's version got millions of views on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. This made her very popular very quickly.

Beyoncé noticed Ezinma's videos online. Even before the "Mask Off" cover, Beyoncé invited Ezinma to perform. Ezinma joined Beyoncé's show at the Coachella festival in April 2018. Between 2017 and 2018, Ezinma also appeared in ads. She modeled for brands like Adidas, Gap Inc., and Gucci.

First Album and Teaching

In early 2019, Ezinma signed with Universal Music Classics. She planned to release a mix of classical and hip-hop music. This album, called Key of Black Minor, came out in 2020. A movie about her life was also released with it.

Ramsay has also written music for films. She scored the documentary The Times of Bill Cunningham (2020). She also wrote music for the short film Promise Me (2020). In August 2020, Ezinma released her first single, "Beethoven Pleads the Fifth."

Ezinma also helps teach music to kids. She worked with Wide Open School and Re-Create. These programs provide learning materials for schools in New York. She also partnered with After-School All-Stars. She creates violin lessons for schools and after-school programs across the United States.

Personal Life

Ezinma's parents divorced when she was young. She has two brothers and two sisters. Her mother, Lisa Knopp, writes non-fiction books. She also teaches at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Ezinma is an honorary member of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority.

Music Releases

Extended Plays

Singles

Guest Appearances