Mooke, Martha
Composer and electroacoustic violist Martha Mooke is a pioneer in the field of electric five-string viola, transcending musical boundaries by synthesizing her classical music training with extended techniques, digital effects processing, and improvisation. A Yamaha, Eventide, and Thomastik-Infeld Artist, she is a leading clinician on electric and progressive approaches to string playing. Mooke has toured with Barbra Streisand, Peter Gabriel, Damon Albarn, Marco Antonio Solis, Andrea Bocelli and Star Wars in Concert and has performed with Sir Elton John, Bon Jovi, Moby, Enya, Tony Bennett, John Cale, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and others. She has appeared on The Tonight Show, Regis Live, The David Letterman Show, The View, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and The Rosie O'Donnell Show. Mooke is founding violist and Artistic Director of the Scorchio Quartet, which has performed with David Bowie (and played on Bowie's Heathen CD), Philip Glass, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Michael Stipe, Regina Spektor, Moby, Trey Anastasio, and Ziggy Marley. ASCAP, Meet the Composer and Arts International are among the many institutions to have awarded Mooke for her work. Her solo debut Enharmonic Vision and CD Café Mars (as one-half of the duo Bowing with Randolph A. Hudson III) have attracted wide critical acclaim. Her new solo CD, No Ordinary Window, is produced by multi Grammy-winning producer Cynthia Daniels.
Photo: Marbeth
