Gwen Laster: Violinist, Recording Artist, Author

Gwen's upbringing in Urban and Classical music was inspired by her mother's love for Blues, Jazz, the Motown sound and R &B. Her motivation blossomed through her Detroit high school orchestra teacher Anderson White. In addition to learning traditional Orchestral and Chamber music repertoire, Andy also introduced Gwen to the Electric Violin during an orchestra rehearsal. His organic approach to Improvisation was to point, then shout "Stand up, Take a Solo" using string arrangements of Dr. David Baker. Anderson White introduced Gwen to playing Classical music on Electric Violin, professional recording sessions and her first experiences of summer music camps. After earning her BM and MM from the University of Michigan School of Music, Gwen relocated to New York City. She emerged herself in recording, touring, collaborating with other artists, playing Broadway shows, Jazz clubs, Traditional and Non Traditional Chamber Ensembles and Teaching Improvisation to String Players.

She has released two recordings "Sneak Preview"(EP) and "I Hear You Smiling" of original music. The track "Send Love to the Equation" from the "Smiling" CD was selected for a very successful radio airplay campaign on AC Radio throughout the mid west. Her next recording "The Gameboard" will be released in January 2011. It is based on the readings of Steve Rother's book "Re-member” and inspired by her love for Yoga and Eastern Philosophy. The compositions are a Global Music Fusion concept using Violin, Vocals, Electronics, Western and non Western Strings and Percussion.

Gwen's collaborations with Popular, Global and Avant Garde recording artists give her an interesting and diverse set of skills and musical sense abilities. These artists include Alicia Keys; Unplugged, various recordings, Rhianna; The View, The Today Show, Barbados Music Awards, Beres Hammond; Madison Square Gardens (concertmaster), Kingston Jamaica, Saxophonist Joe Giardullo, Angie Stone, Shaggy, Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, Haitian vocalist Emeline Michel, Multi Reedist/Composer Anthony Braxton and Leroy Jenkins. Her chamber and orchestral work includes Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, Harlem Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Sugar Hill Classical Band and The Braxton Opera "Shala". She has toured Japan, Cuba, Haiti, Barbados, Anguilla, Jamiaca, Canada, the Dominican Republic and the U.S.

As a teaching artist, Gwen has published her first violin method book; "Music for the Creative String Player". This instructional includes technical studies, original songs, beginning improvisation skills and a practice CD. She also presents “Creative Strings” clinics, workshops and private lessons to numerous colleges, universities, schools and arts camps everywhere. The Creative Strings workshop develops the trained string players’ composition, improvisation and studio production skills. Jazz and global music are also used to emphasize individuality of sound, music theory and ear training. All students record their own CD's of the music they've composed, arranged and/or studied as an end session activity. Creative Strings was the first non traditional string workshop welcomed by the Interlochen Arts Academy.