MINOOKA -- If you have a talent for playing a string instrument and you like classic rock, there's an opportunity that you won't want to pass up.
Thanks to a family in Minooka, the famed Mark Wood of the multi-platinum symphonic rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) will be leading a rock camp and music workshop at the University of St. Francis this summer.
For two days, students of any age that play violin, viola, cello or double bass, can work closely with Wood and learn from a master of string instruments. After the workshop is complete, the students will perform a concert at Minooka Community High School right along with Wood.
Mark is also lead violinist and string conductor with the multi-platinum-selling symphonic rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Carmen and Mike Kosicek are responsible for getting Wood to come to the area. The Kosicek's went to see TSO in concert several years ago and Mike was so taken with Wood's talent that he wanted to learn to play violin.
He had never played an instrument in his life, said wife Carmen, until he saw Wood play. Their daughter, Mikayla, now 11, was also smitten by the music bug when she went to see a TSO concert. She's been playing for two years now while her brother Blake plays the drums.
The Kosicek's wanted to take Mikayla to the next level, but the only violin teachers they could find instruct in classical music only. The Kosicek's play Christian rock together for their church. Carmen, along with Mike, homeschool's their children, and has a lot of information at her fingertips.
She found out that Wood has held string instrument camps all over the United States but has never been to Illinois. So they hatched a plan to bring him here.
"Nobody offers anything like this to these small towns," said Carmen.
"We said 'we are going to bring Mark to town ourselves.' We are just crazy enough to do it. We think outside the box.
"
Through the Kosicek's own company, Alpha Omega Properties, they have arranged for Wood to hold the camp at USF on July 6 and 7. The professionally-staged concert at Minooka High will be held July 7 at 7:30 p.m.
There's no skill level required, but each student should know the music for the camp before they come. That way, said Carmen, Wood will be able to focus on teaching his unique style while helping the student to advance their level of playing. Music is available now for anyone who signs up for the camp.
Wood is a graduate of Juilliard School of Music in New York, studied under Maestro Leonard Bernstein and is an Emmy Award-winning musician. He has released six CDs, recorded with many prominent performers like Celine Dion and is the lead violinist and string conductor with TSO. Wood will be working with students to the music of AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Paul McCartney and his own music.
To register for the Mark Wood "Electrify Your Strings" two-day summer workshop and concert, contact Carmen Kosicek at (815) 467-7698. Tickets to see the concert are available through Carmen as well, or check out Wood's Web site at MarkWoodMusic.com.
News RSS