The Westbury School District music program recently held their annual Electrify Your Strings program.
The two-day program, which is run by virtuoso electric violin player and Trans-Siberian Orchestra founder Mark Wood, promotes music education and mentorship all over the country. More than 20 students got to attend the workshop to learn more about music, as well as perform a concert with Wood that had more than 150 people in attendance. 
“I look forward to this program each year because I am so excited for my students to have such a phenomenal opportunity to perform alongside an internationally-acclaimed musician,” said middle school orchestra director Catherine Colquhoun. “It is also so rewarding for me to be on stage alongside all of my current students and my former students who are now in the high school.”
Middle school orchestra teacher Nadine Schalk said the experience helps the music students see music in a new way, beyond just the classics.
“Nowadays, string instruments can do more than just play the classics,” Schalk said. “Through the program, students from the orchestra, band and chorus have been able to experience something totally different. We hope to continue to provide this opportunity for the students and the community.”
Wood also donated a five-string electric violin to the orchestra to help them build their electric inventory.
