Mark Wood to Electrify Student Orchestra on Feb. 17
January 17, 2012 by hollykss
Filed under District-wide
Mark Wood with students on stage, May 2010
International recording artist Mark Wood, an original member of the multiplatinum selling Trans-Siberian Orchestra and creator of the revolutionary Viper electric violin, will perform in a rock orchestra concert with high school and junior high school students from Bettendorf and Rock Island on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rock Island High School Auditorium.
Mark Wood will perform with the students on his handcrafted 7-string fretted electric Viper violin. Selections will include Mark’s original material, as well as arrangements of music by Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Beatles, and other popular artists.
As part of this year’s “Electrify Your Strings Fire and Ice” tour, Mark has been spending 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.
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Mark Wood will hold a student workshop on Thursday, Feb. 16 to teach students improvisation, composition, and personal expression on their violins, violas, cellos and basses. Utilizing music arrangements that were sent to school districts prior to this visit, the Rock Island & Bettendorf orchestra students will perform with Mark Wood in a live concert, open to the public, on February 17, 7:00 p.m. at the Rock Island High School Auditorium.
Tickets are $15 and available at the door. Tickets can also be purchased at the Rock Island High School Bookstore (1400 25th Avenue; park in Circle Drive) and are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
The event is supported by the Bettendorf & Rock Island Orchestras, West Music, The Riverboat Development Authority and the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation. Questions can be directed to Rock Island-Milan School District Orchestra Director Matt Manweiler, matthew.manweiler@risd41.org.
