Electric violinist Mark Wood performs with Utley Orchestra

Mark performed with the students on his handcrafted 7-string fretted electric Viper violin as part of the 2013 Electrify Your Strings! “Dream Tour” at Rockwall High School Performing Arts Center.

The audience was entertained by Mark’s original material, as well as his exciting arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and more.  Utley Middle School students performed in a live concert alongside Mark Wood, open to the public with all profits going to the school’s music program.

“The rock and roll music brings relevance to playing a stringed instrument for many of these students. The students really love being challenged with stylistic and technical demands of the music,” said Orchestra Director Debra Scott.

The program – now in it’s 15^th 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 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 Evenings 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.

To find out more about Mark Wood, visit markwoodmusic.com.