Trans-Siberian Orchestra Meets the Mineola String Orchestra

It’s not everyday that a sting band gets to fully rock out with a famous musician, let alone Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Mark Wood.

For some members of Mineola’s string orchestra, it has become old hat as the long-haired electric violinist rocked the auditorium at Tuesday night, the entire orchestra filling in as his backup while riffs of Jimi Hendrix wailed across stage, bathed in a pink neon light.

Put together by the Mineola Department of Fine and Performing Arts, String Night is the mid-year performance where middle and high school orchestras perform pieces they’ve practiced for almost half a year and is free to residents.

This year, was the twist. Kristin Frazier, Director of the Orchestras (along with many other Mineola administrators) worked to literally bring a rocked out vibe to what otherwise would have been classical music.

That’s where Wood came into the picture.

Being one of the founding members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Wood worked with Paul O’Neill (the group’s founder) for many years. After rocking out the neo-classical interpretation of Purple Haze, “it feels so good to be back in one of my favorite places,” Wiid said. “Not only does Mineola have great teachers but it also has one of the greatest music programs on Long Island. It feels good to be home!”

Wood told concertgoers that “we’re going to explore different forms of music,” echoing O’Neill, who said he “wanted to take the very best of all the forms of music I grew up on and merge them into a new style.”

The orchestra director’s affinity for the genre runs deep.

“Basically I was building on the work of everybody I worshipped: the rock opera parts from bands like the Who; the marriage of classical and rock from bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Queen; the over-the-top light show from bands like Pink Floyd,” he said. “I always wanted to do a full rock opera with a full progressive band and at least 18 lead singers.”

With each new song, students got a chance for a solo. For one performance, a middle school student named Joel got to play Wood’s custom designed “sting ray,” a modern violin made of metal with a “V” shaped tail. Wood donated a few of the electric violins to the school district. During a performance of an AC/DC tune, five young ladies played alongside Wood and danced with him up and down the stage.

“These children are our future, “ Wood said. “They are our most important investment. It’s not about Wall Street and it’s too late once they’ve graduated college. The kids are our future.”

The sentiments shared by many were expressed in the words of one parent, who, as they exited the theatre remarked that the “music really came alive tonight.”