Gwen M Laster

Gwen M Laster
Beacon, NY
Grant amount: $6,000

About the Artist

Gwen Laster is a nationally acclaimed musician who has been the recipient of awards by the National Endowment for the Arts, MPower Sphinx, Jubilation Foundation, Puffin Foundation, Arts Mid Hudson, Lila Wallace, and the Cognac Hennessey 1st place Jazz Search. She began her love for improvising and composing because of her parents' love of jazz, blues, soul and classical music played endlessly on the record player and her progressive jazz music educators from Detroit's public schools.

Gwen Laster is many things: A virtuoso violinist with exquisite taste. An adventurous composer, arranger and orchestrator. A classically-trained artist with a deep appreciation for America's musical history, and a scholar of African- American musical heritage. A socially conscious activist and educator who understands the power of music to reach and touch everyday people.

Her playing is poignant, descriptive and always relevant. Perhaps that's why she has recorded and performed with the world's most influential artists. The list reads like a “who's who” of modern masters: Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Alicia Keys, Rhianna, Shaggy, Aretha Franklin, Solange, Mark Anthony, J Lo, Shakira, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole, Anthony Braxton, Nona Hendryx, Wadada Leo Smith, William Parker, Danny Elfman, Sun Ra Arkestra, Tyler, the Creator, Emeline Michel and Andrew Baba Lamb. Her talents also extend to Broadway (Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, Carousel, Wicked, Porgy and Bess, The King and I).

As the founder of the Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble (CSIE), she has created programs which promote self-expression through improvisation. Her sensitivity to global music informs her workshops and master classes across the U.S.

A native of Detroit, she holds two degrees in music from the University of Michigan and has lived in New York for many years. Her newest recording "Blue Lotus" is performed by New MUSE4tet, an improvisational string quartet whose original works promote social activism.

Her features in Chamber Music America magazine for her commissioned work Black Lives Matter Suite (composed for New Muse4tet) shares her personal reflection and experiences that motivated the work.

Laster's music is available at Bandcamp, iTunes and other digital media sources. Her recordings as a leader are Sneak Preview, I Hear You Smiling, Gameboard and Blue Lotus.