Oyster Bay-East Norwich

On May 29, the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District's music department turned tradition on its head, trading concert blacks and classical scores for electric energy, thundering riffs, and a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration with rock royalty.

Mark Wood, a Juilliard-trained virtuoso, Emmy Award-winning composer, and founding member of the multi-platinum Trans-Siberian Orchestra, brought his celebrated educational program, “Electrify Your Symphony,” to the district as part of its 25th-anniversary tour. A pioneer of the international electric violin movement, Wood has shared stages with Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Kanye West, and Celine Dion. He spent the day working side-by-side with the district's orchestra students, from fourth grade through tenth grade.

Before the main event, Wood led an intensive series of grade-level masterclasses, providing every orchestra student in the program with direct, hands-on instruction. Fourth graders worked with Wood in a dedicated session, followed by fifth and sixth graders, and then the district's seventh through tenth grade string players. In each workshop, students stepped beyond their comfort zones to absorb advanced performance techniques and learn what it truly means to command a stage. Wood challenged students to rethink what an orchestra can be and what they themselves are capable of.

The masterclasses culminated in an electrifying concert that was anything but ordinary. The 5th and 6th grade orchestra, led by Ms. Muller Pinnola, brought the house down with performances of “Yellow Submarine” and “Arizona Sun.” Then the 7th through 10th grade string orchestra, led by Mr. Giannetta, took the stage for a driving set featuring Journey's “Any Way You Want It” and “Wood's Bolero.” The concert reached its crescendo with a full-ensemble finale: every student, from the youngest fourth grader to the oldest tenth grader, took the stage together to perform Ozzy Osbourne's “Crazy Train” with Mark Wood himself playing alongside them.

Erica Giglio Pac, Director of Fine, Performing and Media Arts, reflected on the experience's significance for students and families alike. “Bringing Mark Wood to our district was an electrifying experience for our orchestra students, educators, and their families,” she said. Watching musicians from fourth through tenth grade step out of their comfort zones and dive headfirst into the workshops and performances was inspiring. Our goal is to provide enriching experiences that spark a lifelong passion for creativity and connect students with elite industry professionals in the arts. This wasn't just a concert; it was a defining memory that will resonate with our students and their families for years to come.