Gwen Laster is an award winning creative violin player and conceptual composer. Her devotion to exploring creative writings, readings, spirituality and current events inspire adventurous compositions rooted in the African Diaspora and other Global cultures.
Being born and reared in Detroits' community of jazz educators and artists inside the constructs of traditional classical training created the pathway to her broad aesthetic expression. Laster conveys her art through her "alternative chamber ensemble" New Muse 4tet who play new and original works for social activism and her fusion global ensemble "Gameboard".

As a soloist, bandleader and improviser, she has performed in Europe, the Caribbean and the U.S. since the early 2000's. Her commissions include Arts Mid Hudson, Composers NOW and Mutual Mentorship for Musicians. She's a Guggenheim fellow and recipient of the NEA/Jazz Fellowship, Chamber Music America, MPower Sphinx, Jubilation Foundation, Puffin Foundation and the Mutual Mentorship for Musicians. Her degrees are from the University of Michigan School of Music (BM,MM). Writings include "Is My Black Still Beautiful" (M3) Anthology 5, "Parallel Lives: Suzuki and the Art of Improvisation and Jazz”; The Suzuki Journal and "Music for the Creative String Player" method book. She is a visiting artist in residence at Bard College.