2016 PRESS KIT. Media Contact: Barbara Ring Marketing Director, Wood Violins

Transcription

1 2016 PRESS KIT Media Contact: Barbara Ring Marketing Director, Wood Violins

2 Wood Violins 2016 COMPANY FACT SHEET MISSION/PURPOSE: For over 25 years, Wood Violins has led the electric strings revolution by manufacturing high quality, uniquely designed electric violins, violas and cellos for musicians of all ages and skill levels. Led by visionary professional violinist Mark Wood, the company, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, also conducts year-round music education outreach and advocacy work in order to strengthen school music programs nationwide and grow the strings industry. For more information, please visit EMPLOYEES: 7 FOUNDED: 1990 HEADQUARTERS: Port Washington, NY WEBSITE: KEY FACTS: KEY EXECUTIVES: Celebrated 25-year anniversary in 2015 Invented the first solid-body electric violin Brings cool rock n roll aesthetic designs to orchestral stringed instruments Believes in developing the market for stringed instruments by strengthening school music programs nationwide Mark Wood, Founder/CEO Laura Kaye, President For more information about Wood Violins and its activities, please contact: Barbara Ring Marketing Director Wood Violins barbara@woodviolins.com

3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Barbara Ring Marketing Director, Wood Violins Wood Violins Continues 25th Anniversary Celebration PORT WASHINGTON, NY, Jan. 22, (NAMM booth 3404) Revolutionary electric stringed instrument manufacturer Wood Violins will continue the celebration of its 25th anniversary at the 2016 NAMM Show. To commemorate the 25th anniversary, all custom instruments built in 2015 had a special Wood Violins XXV logo on the neck. To keep the party going, all instruments ordered at The NAMM Show will also have this highly collectible, value-added option. Stingray SVX Series The company will also have its new Stingray SVX Series, the latest version of its successful Stingray SV and newly updated for The Stingray SVX4 and SVX5 are available now for $699 and $899 (MAP) respectively. 25 years later, we are still bringing innovation to the music products industry both with our instruments and our unique business model of strengthening local school music and orchestra programs to create the next generation of string musicians, said Mark Wood, CEO/Founder, Wood Violins. We see a future where the entire ecosystem of school programs, dealers and students can grow into a much larger and more lucrative community. We urge all dealers to visit us at the show and learn more about our ideas for the next 25 years and beyond. About Wood Violins For over 25 years, Wood Violins has led the electric strings revolution by manufacturing high quality, uniquely designed electric violins, violas and cellos for musicians of all ages and skill levels. Led by visionary professional violinist Mark Wood, the company, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, also conducts year-round music education outreach and advocacy work in order to strengthen school music programs nationwide and grow the strings industry. For more information, please visit

4 Mark Wood CEO/Founder Recording artist, performer, producer, inventor, Emmy-winning composer and music education advocate Mark Wood has spent the past four decades electrifying the orchestra industry literally. Dubbed The Les Paul of The Violin World by PBS, the Juilliard-trained violinist (he attended on full scholarship) first turned the string establishment on its head in the early 1970 s with his invention of the first solid body electric violin. His company Wood Violins is the premier manufacturer of electric violins, violas and cellos worldwide and he holds the patent for the first-ever self-supporting violin. The company stands behind its claim to have made the most important change to the violin in 400 years and is often referred to as the Stradivarius of electric violins. With a design as stunning as their sound, Wood Violins pack both sonic and visual punch. Their premier electric violin, The Viper, has found favor with musicians as varied as Lady Gaga s violinist Judy Kang, Carrie Underwood s violinist Jimmy Herman, and Big and Rich s violinist Shawn Bailey. Wood is a world-renowned performer who rose to fame as string master and founding member of the internationally acclaimed Trans Siberian Orchestra. A successful solo artist in his own right, Wood writes and records original music for film and television, has released six solo albums, and tours with his band The Mark Wood Experience (MWE) which features his wife, vocalist Laura Kaye, and their drummer son Elijah. His commission credits include The Juilliard School and extensive TV broadcast music including The Winter Olympics and The Tour de France (for which he won an Emmy). In addition to his continued solo and commission work, Wood has collaborated with and appeared alongside some of the biggest names in music such as Lenny Kravitz, Celine Dion, and Kanye West. As a member of his touring band, Wood had the honor of performing with the legendary Billy Joel for both historic final concerts at Shea stadium, sharing the stage with Paul McCartney, Steven Tyler, and Roger Daltrey. He also starred in a Kanye West produced national Pepsi TV commercial and has appeared on the world s most venerable stages including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Madison Square Garden. But his true passion is music education. His program Electrify Your Strings (EYS) now in its 15th year is an intensive rock and roll workshop for school music education departments that boosts student self-esteem and motivation and helps raise money for music education. Today EYS visits upwards of 60 schools per year and there is a waiting list of schools wanting to participate. The organization has been featured on The Today Show and CBS Evening News and in countless local media outlets. But for Wood, it s all about the kids. He s dedicated to providing educators with the opportunity to ignite their students passions and to inspiring students to open their minds and unlock their potential. His book Electrify Your Strings: The Mark Wood Improvisational Violin Method (published by Cherry Lane) is regarded as the definitive electric violin method book. The first in a series of forthcoming educational books, Wood is passionate about providing educators and students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. A genuine family man, Wood runs his operations alongside his wife, business partner, and longtime collaborator Laura Kaye out of their home in Port Washington, New York. Their 18-year old son Elijah is a drum prodigy and tours with EYS and The Mark Wood Experience. In addition to EYS, Wood and his family run the annual Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, now in its 5th year, as well as the Mark Wood Electrify Your Music Foundation, a 501-C3 dedicated to supporting music and the arts. With more than a hundred thousands students reached, millions of dollars raised to help high school music departments across the US, and dozens of school orchestra programs saved from the chopping block because of funds raised through his efforts, Mark Wood has proven himself a man of ideas, action and results. Showing no signs of slowing down, the multi faceted visionary continues to write, perform, record, invent and inspire. As a matter of fact, Mark Wood is just getting started...

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14 As the creator of Wood Violins, world-renowned electric violinist Mark Wood (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, Dee Snider s Van Helsing s Curse) is honored to be at the helm of the most revolutionary electric violin company in the world. Wood Violins is the only electric string company run by string players for string players, and we are known as the Stradivarius of high-end custom-built electric violins. Check out the newly re-designed and streamlined SVX4 and SVX5 electric violins, featuring lightweight bodies combined with the Wood Tru-Tone pickup for enhanced dynamics, warmth and uncompromised clarity. Add our Wood Electric Violin Amplifier and Wood Wah Effects Pedal and you have an incredible turnkey experience for the modern violinist; all based on Mark Wood s belief that a string player s journey into the electric violin world should be thoroughly exciting, inspiring and mind-blowing. THE STINGRAY SVX4 and STINGRAY SVX5 ELECTRIC VIOLIN The SVX4 and SVX5 are precision electric violins, with playability and authentic tone that effortlessly outperform our competitors. Whether you are a seasoned pro or just starting out, just plug in and you re ready to rock! Colors: Candy Apple Red or Galaxy Black Included: Case, bow, rosin, and warranty Specs: Body - Poplar Fingerboard - Ebony Pegs Ebony Chinrest - Ebony Pickup - Wood Tru-Tone Tail piece - Lightweight, precision composite Scale Standard 4/4 Violin woodviolins.com facebook.com/woodviolins

15