board of directors
We are currently in the process of expanding The Mark Wood Music Foundation and are seeking new board members. If you're interested in finding out more and applying, please contact us.
Do You Believe in the Power of Music?
Help Build the Future of the Mark Wood Music Foundation!
Empowering educators and expanding opportunities through music.
Applications are opening on Thursday, November 4th for our Board of Directors!
Deadline to apply: November 20, 2026
What happens when passionate people come together to make a difference? Opportunities grow, students thrive, and the power of music reaches even further.
The Mark Wood Music Foundation (MWMF) is expanding and seeking dedicated, creative, and forward-thinking individuals to help us expand opportunities for the next generation of musicians.
This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the Foundation's future, build a strong leadership team, and make a lasting impact on music education. BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER!
Our Mission
Our Vision
The Mark Wood Music Foundation works to sustain and strengthen orchestra and choir programs, empower educators, and expand opportunities for students to discover and develop their musical potential.
Through a 21st-century approach to music education that embraces cutting-edge technology, diverse musical traditions, improvisation, creativity, and contemporary performance practices, we envision a future where all students and educators have opportunities to learn, create, perform, and thrive. We strive to remove barriers to musical growth by expanding access to instruments, educational resources, innovative programs, scholarships for musical learning, and professional development opportunities for educators.
Help Build Our Leadership Team
As we establish the Foundation's next chapter, we are seeking individuals to fill four key officer positions: 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer We are also welcoming additional Board members who share our vision and commitment to music education.Whether you bring leadership experience, organizational skills, financial expertise, fundraising experience, creative ideas, community connections, or a passion for helping students succeed, we want to hear from you!
Find Your Place On the Team
Every Board member, including officers, is expected to actively serve on at least one committee as a part of their Board responsibilities. Committees focus on important areas of the Foundation's work and help identify opportunities for growth, strengthen programming, and advance our mission. Our current committees include: GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE: Reviewing and strengthening the Foundation's governance, policies, and organizational practices. SCHOLARSHIP & GRANT COMMITTEE: Responsible for reviewing scholarship applications, grant applications, and instrument donation requests. The committee will report recommendations to the greater board. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Responsible for research and implementations of teacher training and workshops and for reporting recommendations to the greater board. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE: Developing fundraising strategies, building partnerships, and identifying new opportunities to support the Foundation's mission.
What Can You Bring to the Team?
We're looking for a diverse mix of talents, skills, experiences, and perspectives. Are you an organizer, event planner, communicator, leader, creative thinker, fundraiser, educator, strategic marketer, or community builder? Do you enjoy developing new ideas, connecting people, building relationships, or turning big-picture visions into action? You don't need to have experience in every area. We're looking for people who share our passion for music education and are ready to contribute their unique strengths to a collaborative team. You don't have to bring every skill to the table. You just need to bring something meaningful, a willingness to work as part of a team, and a belief in what music can do for students.
What Does Board Service Involve?
A shared commitment and a genuine belief in the Foundation's mission and objectives. A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT: Each Board member is required to donate or secure donations totaling at least $2,000 per calendar year, with a minimum of $500 contributed or raised each quarter. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION: Serve on at least one Foundation committee, along with a willingness to contribute time, talents, and ideas. MONTHLY MEETINGS: Regular meetings are held on the last week of each month, primarily via Zoom to accommodate members across the country. ANNUAL IN-PERSON GATHERING: We hope to bring the Board together in person once a year, planned to coincide with Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp (MWROC). This will be an opportunity to connect face-to-face, experience the camp and its impact firsthand, and strengthen our shared understanding of the programs and people we support. We recognize that travel can be a significant commitment, and details will depend on the Foundation's resources and members' availability. BOARD INDEPENDENCE AND ELIGIBILITY: Board members must be committed to acting in the best interests of the Mark Wood Music Foundation and advancing its mission. To help protect the Foundation's independence and prevent potential conflicts of interest, employees of Mark Wood Music Productions and Wood Violins are not eligible to serve on the Board. Individuals with employment, financial, or other significant relationships with organizations that do business with the Foundation must disclose those relationships and be willing to follow the Foundation's conflict-of-interest policies. Board service must never be used to advance personal, professional, or business interests at the expense of the Foundation's mission.
READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
If you're excited about the possibilities, passionate about music education, and ready to help create opportunities for students and music programs, we invite you to apply!
Whether you're interested in serving as an officer or contributing as a general Board member, your skills, ideas, and commitment could help shape the Foundation's future.
Please complete the Board of Directors application by the deadline, which is November 20, 2026.
Together, we can open more doors, create more opportunities, and help the next generation of musicians find their voice.
Join us in shaping what's next.
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Founder and Executive Artistic Director
Mark Wood
Mark Wood is an internationally acclaimed electric violinist, composer, educator, and innovator whose career has redefined the possibilities of string performance. A Juilliard-trained musician and founding member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mark is also the inventor of the revolutionary Viper electric violin.
Driven by a passion for inspiring the next generation of musicians, Mark founded Electrify Your Symphony and Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp, creating transformative opportunities for students and educators to explore contemporary music, collaboration, creativity, and performance. Through the Mark Wood Music Foundation, he continues to advance his vision of making exceptional music education and performance experiences accessible to all.
Founder and Creative Director
Laura Kaye
Laura Kaye is a professional vocalist, vocal coach, and creative leader with decades of experience in the music industry. Having studied under renowned vocal coaches Don Lawrence and Katie Agresta, Laura has worked with legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Lenny Kravitz, and Sean Lennon, and has performed on major productions including the MTV Video Music Awards.
As Founder and Creative Director of the Mark Wood Music Foundation, Laura brings her extensive performance experience, creative vision, and passion for music education to the organization's programs and initiatives. She is dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities that empower musicians, inspire educators, and make transformative musical experiences accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
Board of Directors
Rachel Barton Pine
Honorary Board Member
Dee Snider
Advisory Committee
Danielle Rudess
Board of Directors
J. Scott Schoeffel
Honorary Board Member
Jordan Rudess