International recording artist and Emmy award-winning composer Mark Wood, an original member of the multiplatinum-selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, is bringing his groundbreaking music education program Electrify Your Strings! (EYS) to Apopka, Florida. This exciting event will transform the student musicians into a full-fledged Rock Orchestra!
Mark will perform with the students on his handcrafted 7-string fretted electric Viper violin as part of the 2021-2022 Electrify Your Strings! “Spotlight Tour” on March 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the Wekiva High School Auditorium. The audience will be entertained by Mark’s original material, as well as his exciting arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and more.
When asked about Mark’s upcoming visit, Orchestra Director at Montverde Academy, Dr. Jeannine Mongeon said, “I met Mark Wood on more than one occasion at an alternative string teacher workshop in the 1990s. Mark is a talented violinist with a passion for performing the electric violin. This is a dream come true for me to finally have Mark Wood sharing his expertise with students at Wekiva and Montverde. It is important for string players to realize that they can perform any style of music that they enjoy on the instrument that they enjoy playing.”
The program – now in its 22nd year – is a music education experience like no other. Wood and his team work directly with a school’s orchestra director to tailor-design a rock orchestra makeover complete with a public performance at the end of the experience. EYS builds on the strong foundation provided by the classically trained music teachers, creating a partnership that inspires students and boosts their self-esteem and motivation on stage and off. EYS has been featured on The Today Show, The CBS Evening News, and many more.
Mark Wood is the owner and operator of Wood Violins, the premier manufacturer of electric orchestra string instruments worldwide. He studied under Maestro Leonard Bernstein, is a Juilliard-trained violinist and Emmy-winning composer. In addition to his solo career and his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mark has worked with Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, Billy Joel and more.
During the workshops, to prepare students for this concert, Mark will teach students improvisation, composition, and personal expression on their violins, violas, cellos, and basses. The concert is open to the public with all profits going to the school music programs.
“It is a pleasure to collaborate with Mr. Stephan Labelle, the Orchestra Director at Wekiva High School and his students,” said Dr. Mongeon. “Mr. Labelle and I have known of each other for quite some time as we share the common experience of working as string teachers in Cranford, New Jersey, however, our years there do not overlap. I am very grateful that both our schools can profit from Mark Wood’s time in the Orlando area.”
PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MUSIC EDUCATION
For more information on Electrify Your Strings! please visit www.electrifyyourstrings.com
To find out more about Mark Wood, please visit www.markwoodmusic.com
The Viper electric violin is one of several electric instruments manufactured by Mark’s company
Wood Violins – check them out at www.woodviolins.com.
