By Lana Mueller
For further information:
David Kelly (609) 671-5520 (w)
Date: May 11, 2009 Lee Neamand (609) 671-5510 (w)
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP MUSIC STUDENTS TO PERFORM IN CONCERT WITH WORLD-RENOWNED ELECTRIC VIOLINIST
MARK WOOD
International recording artist Mark Wood, one of the original members of the multi-platinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, is working to inspire young string players with “Electrify Your Strings,” his groundbreaking music education program. He and his band, the Mark Wood Experience, will perform in concert with music students from the Lawrence Township Public Schools on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 7:00pm in the Lawrence High School (LHS) Auditorium at 2525 Princeton Pike in Lawrenceville. The Mark Wood Experience is comprised of six musicians who are leaders in their field, including other members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
To prepare for this concert, Mark, vocalist Laura Kaye, and the rest of the Mark Wood Experience will spend two days rehearsing with the Lawrence Middle and High School students, teaching them improvisation, composition, and personal expression on their violins, violas, cellos and basses. Utilizing Mark’s music arrangements that were sent to the district prior to this visit, the orchestras and choir from the Lawrence Township schools will perform in a live concert, open to the public.
Tickets are $15 and are available by emailing Lee Neamand, LHS music teacher, at lneamand@ltps.org.
Mark will perform with the Middle and High School students on his handcrafted 7-string fretted electric Viper violin. This exciting event will transform the student musicians into a full-fledged Rock Orchestra! The audience will be entertained by Mark’s original material, as well as his exciting arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Beatles, and more.
Mark Wood is the owner and operator of Wood Violins, one of the largest electric violin manufacturing companies in the world. He studied under Maestro Leonard Bernstein, and is a Juilliard-trained violinist and Emmy-winning composer who has done string arrangements for Celine Dion and others. In addition to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, he has worked with Lenny Kravitz, Billy Joel, Everclear, and many others.
As part of this year’s “Electrify Your Strings” tour, Mark has spent much of his time performing at schools all across the country, and has worked with orchestra directors to create more than 50 student rock orchestras. His music programs build on the strong foundation in classical music provided by the music teachers at each school he works with; creating a partnership with educators to create a learning experience for music students that can grow and evolve from year to year.
According to Lawrence Middle School orchestra director David Kelly, “The music students of Lawrence Township Public Schools are very excited about our Electrify Your Strings program, and thank the Lawrence Township Education Foundation (LTEF), Lawrence Instrumental Music Boosters Organization, and Educational Testing Services, as well the Lawrence Township Board of Education for helping make this possible. Receiving this LTEF grant will enable music students to collaborate efforts as well attend a professional workshop and perform in a concert event.”
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.
Media Contacts:
Alison Roth
609.530.0953
dpaer@aol.com
Electrify Your Strings:
Bridgid Bibbens
516.767.6677
bridgid@markwoodmusic.com
