Luna Strings is an Atlanta-area string trio that coordinates musical entertainment for social events all over the city. Leah Jacobson holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Georgia and completed a master’s degree in performance at Georgia State University in 2010. Katerina Lewis graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from Converse College and earned her master’s degree in 2009 from Georgia State University. Erica Ransbottom holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violoncello Performance from Georgia State University, and has studied the cello with many world-renowned instructors. They will present “The Evolution of Pop”, a show that traces the history of pop music around the world over the last 120 years.
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
Leah: My mother is a violin teacher, so it was probably a smashing performance of “Twinkle Twinkle” by a 4 year old.
Kat: I cringe to put this out there on the Internet, but other than my older brother’s band concerts, the first one I have active memories of was a Dido concert in tenth grade.
Erica: My parents made me and my brother go to a Tina Turner concert when I was about 9 or 10. Now almost 17 years later I appreciate that fact that they made me go! I actually had fun…I just would never tell them I had fun!
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
Leah: For the past two years I have played with Trans Siberian Orchestra when they came to Atlanta! The pyrotechnics made me fear for my life, but the music and atmosphere was so much fun!
Kat: I recorded Celtic Woman’s new DVD with them last year at the Fox Theater. I’ve wanted to play at the Fox my whole life, and having my sister there in the audience for the second show made it really special for me. Either that, or performing at Carnegie Hall in high school.
Erica: Definitely has to be an orchestra tour in Berlin, Germany. That was my first time out of the country and Berlin was beautiful!
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
Leah: I saw Julia Fischer, one of my favorite violinists perform a few years ago. It was inspirational! I went home and immediately started [thinking about] practicing!
Kat: Oh, wow, there are almost too many to pick favorites. I was also at the Rostropovich concert that Erica mentions here, but I think my favorite in recent memory would have to be Cut Copy at the Masquerade last year. The audience’s visceral reaction to the band’s performance has completely changed the way I think about playing music.
Erica: Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich came to play with the Atlanta Symphony years ago and played the Dvorak cello concerto. One of my old teachers was able to get his autograph for me! It was an incredible concert because it was his last concert tour. A few years later he passed away. I feel so lucky that I got to see one of the world’s greatest cellists play one of the greatest cello concertos ever written.
What is the gig you would most like to play?
Leah: I would love to play for the Royal Wedding!
Kat: Right now, I want to sit in with Jukebox the Ghost when they come back to town this fall! Are you listening, guys? 🙂
Erica: I would love to play in a Hollywood orchestra that gets to record movie music for big blockbuster films! Music brings movies to life and I want to be part of it.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Leah: My dream gig would be performing with Ella Fitzgerald in New York!
Kat: I would give anything to have been at LCD Soundsystem’s final show last year. The Arcade Fire as backup singers? Yes please!
Erica: My dream gig would be playing the soundtrack of Star Wars with London Symphony with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford all present for a Star Wars reunion. Oh…and Johnny Depp can come too…just because it’s Johnny Depp and this is my dream gig, right?
Catch Luna Strings, August 22nd @ Eddie’s Attic
