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Electrified strings coming to Wekiva High this month

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From Stephan Labelle, Orchestra Director of Wekiva High School

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 Wekiva High School and Piedmont Lakes Middle School in Apopka.

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 2018-2019 Electrify Your Strings! “Discovery Tour” on January 16th at 7 pm 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 in this one-man, multi-media show. Students from the Wekiva High School and Piedmont Lakes Middle School Orchestras will perform the finale with Mark, and one of Mark Wood’s Stingray SVX Electric Violins will be raffled off during the concert.

When asked about Mark’s upcoming visit, Orchestra Director Stephan Labelle said, “I’ve been wanting to bring Mark to Orlando for a while and am so excited for him to work with my students! They are ready to rock!”

The program – now in its 18th 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 program for their school complete with a public performance at the end of the experience. EYS builds on the strong foundation in traditional music provided by music teachers; creating a partnership with educators 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, Kanye West and more.

To prepare for this concert, Mark will teach the students about improvisation 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 program.

January 16th at 7 pm

Wekiva High School Auditorium

2501 N. Hiawassee Rd. Apopka, FL

Ticket Information: $10 each available at the door or online

https://aneveningwithmarkwoodandwekivahs.eventbrite.com

Rehearsals are open to the media. Please contact: Stephan Labelle (contact information above)

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.

Mark Wood, Piedmont Lakes Middle School, wekiva high school

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