OUR STORY
Gemini Strings was founded in 2014 by Laurann Woods and Chris Smith. The name Gemini was chosen because shortly after becoming good friends, Laurann and Chris realized they had the same birthday of June 1. They both had a passion arranging popular music for strings and that ultimately led to the birth of Gemini Strings. Our focus is and has always been on providing the highest quality of music for our clients and maintaining a modern and versatile repertoire.
The musicians of Gemini Strings are some of the highest trained and most sought after professionals in the industry. They have played and recorded with artists such as the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Lindsey Stirling, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Adele, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Pentatonix, X Ambassadors, Bastille, Halsey, CeeLo Green, Iggy Azalea, Deadmau5, Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Earth Wind and Fire and more. In addition, they are all active in the film and television recording/live performance industry working regularly on productions such as on American Idol, The Voice, The Ellen Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, the MTV Music Awards, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Little Big Shots, The Oscars, The Emmy's The Grammy's, Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, and SyFy's Face Off.
GET TO KNOW US
(Note: this is not a list that compiles all of the musicians within our collective. There are many, many more incredible musicians that perform regularly with Gemini Strings. The bios below are meant to give you an idea of the standards we hold when choosing to work with certain performers and an introduction to some of the players you could meet at an event. Placement is done based off of each person's availability and no specific musician is guaranteed. What is guaranteed is the quality that we advertise.)
Laurann Woods || Owner/Violin/Viola/Arranger
Laurann has been playing the violin since the age of eight. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Violin Performance in 2014. She has performed and recorded with many artists including the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes, Ariana Grande, Kelly Clarkson, Lindsey Stirling, X Ambassadors, Deadmau5, Jon Batiste, Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera and many more. You can hear her playing on TV broadcasts such as Hulu's The Handmaids Tale, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Grammys, The Oscars, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. She is the owner and founder of Gemini Strings and you will hear her arrangements performed at our events. Laurann specializes in string arranging and improvisation as well as the electric violin/viola. Outside of music, Laurann is a licensed real estate agent and has two sweet babies with her husband Chris Woods.
Chris Smith || Founder/Manager
Chris is the second founder of Gemini Strings. He helps manage on the backend and has arranged a good portion of the modern songs performed at our events! Chris has had extensive experience working as a full-time manager and coordinator for multiple 5-star, luxury hotels over the years. His experience from this has given him the knowledge and communication skills needed in order to understand our guests needs and provide the highest quality of service. He currently manages a 5-star hotel in Beverly Hills in addition to his work with Gemini Strings.
Stephanie Moorehouse || Assistant Manager/Violin
Stephanie Moorehouse recieved her Bachelor’s in violin performance at the University of Texas at Arlington and her MFA in violin performance from California Institute of the Arts. Her teachers have been Dr. Martha Walvoord, Loren Laing, and Lorenz Gamma. During her time in California, Stephanie has performed for artists like: Andrea Bocelli, Lindsey Stirling, Shahkar, Jake Mai, and Michael Card. Stephanie has performed under the baton of: John Debney, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, Mark Isham, Christopher Lennertz, Joel McNeely, Diego Navarro, John Powell, Brian Tyler, David Newman, Richard Sherman, Hans Zimmer, and John Williams. As a previous Suzuki student herself, Stephanie is very passionate about Suzuki method and training. Recently, Stephanie has recieved SAA training from Ed Kreitman and Sarah Montzka. Along with running her private violin studio, Stephanie has performed with: Disneyland, Golden State Pops Orchestra, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra, Bakersfield Symphony, and San Bernardino Symphony. Stephanie now lives in Dallas, TX and runs a branch of Gemini Strings for that area.
Kiara Ana Perico || Violin/Viola
Kiara Ana Perico is a violist and violinist based in Los Angeles. She has toured nationally with Adele, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Bleu, Air Traffic Controller and Vinnie Ferra and internationally with Ariana Grande and Yoshiki of X-Japan. Kiara has also played live with artists including Gwen Stefani, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber, David Foster, Josh Groban, Richard Marx, Kenny Loggins, Eric Benet, Alexz Johnson, Ty Taylor, Adam Pascal, Rumer Willis and Marco Antonio Solis. She has recorded for inspiring artists like John Oates, Chris Mann, Robert DeLong, Steel Panther, Megan and Liz, Bleu, Helen Austin, Linus of Hollywood, Kato and the Ellis Allis and Kelley Jackle. Kiara enjoys playing intimate venues as well as world-class arenas, as long as she’s surrounded by inspiring musicians and great friends. Kiara holds her Bachelors of Viola Performance from Boston University’s School of Music. Kiara is the violist in the band Panic! At The Disco.
Chris Woods || Violin/Viola
After attending the North Carolina School of the Arts for high school then graduating from the Manhattan School of Music he moved to Los Angeles, where he was soon to become one of the most sought-after violinists in the city. Though trained in classical music, he learned to play different styles, from rock to hip-hop to electronic to jazz. He has worked with some of the top artists in the world, including Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, Clay Aiken, Faith Evans, Outkast, Rickie Byers-Beckwith, the Black Eyed Peas, Pentatonix, Demi Lovato, and Dr. Dre. He performs around the world, most recently being featured at the prestigious Ortiz Festival in Mexico. He has served as concertmaster of the Southeast Symphony, Center Stage Opera, is the recipient of numerous awards, and has performed on such shows as American Idol, America's Got Talent, the Grammys, the American Music Awards, as well as shows on MTV, VHI, NBC, CBS, and has worked as a music consultant for the television shows ER and The Big Bang Theory. He served as concertmaster at the Hollywood Bowl for the release of Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed series “Band of Brothers.” He has been featured in two national commercials, one for GE, and one for Weight Watchers, in which he plays violin alongside American Idol winner and Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson. He recently guest starred in the popular children’s show The Fresh Beat Band on Nickelodeon. He is well known for his dynamic performing style, technical prowess, and soulful playing. Chris is married to Laurann and they have two beautiful babies together.
Chrysanthe Tan || Violin/Viola
Chrysanthe Tan is a composer, violinist, and singer-songwriter who performs contemporary classical, electroacoustic chamber pop, Cambodian, and Greek folk music. Named an ASCAP Spotlight composer in 2015, her work has been performed in places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Center, New Orleans Heritage Fest, and US Embassy in Cambodia. As a violinist, Chrysanthe has toured internationally, recorded, and performed with artists like Ariana Grande, Paul Anka, Halsey, Alicia Keys, and Bastille, and performed on TV shows like Glee and America’s Next Top Model. She also has a guitar-violin duo called Duo Meranti. Chrysanthe earned her Master’s in Composition and Violin Performance at California Institute of the Arts and her B.A. in English & Creative Writing at Stanford University.
Madeline Falcone || Violin/Viola
Madeline Falcone is a Los Angeles-based violinist, violist, and producer, most recently featured as a soloist on acoustic and electric violin for the 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation’s Rising Artists series. Madeline has performed and recorded with artists including The Eagles, Deltron 3030, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Temptations, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Billie Eilish.
Luis Mascaro || Violin
Los Angeles based violinist Luis Mascaro is a keen believer in musical diversity. Natural from Brazil, Luis initiated his music studies at the age of 8, studying classical violin at the local conservatoire in his hometown named Campinas. Soon after, Luis started his academic studies, holding a double bachelor and double Master’s degree in both classical and jazz from Campinas State University (UNICAMP), University of Southern Mississippi, and University of New Mexico. Luis has performed and toured in theaters and arenas all over the Americas and Europe, with artists such as German conductor Kurt Masur (recording Mahler’s 1st Symphony under his baton), Dave Grusin, Vardan Ovsepian, The Foo Fighters, John Paul Jones, Ricky Scaggs, Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, X-Ambassadors, Nate Ruess, Transiberian Orchestra, Cheap Trick, and many others. In 2015-16, Luis was the solo violinist for Mexican pop diva Gloria Trevi, touring North, Central, and South America. Luis is currently performing with renowned jazz singer Gretchen Parlato, and his own world/fusion band Farofa, among other projects.
Korina Davis - Violin/Viola
Korina (Korie) Davis began playing the violin at five years old. She studied, performed and competed around the Bay Area throughout her childhood and later attended high school at Oakland School for the Arts where she continued intensive musical training and performing in classical music as well as other genres. In 2011, she began attending Fullerton College where she was concertmaster in the college symphony for 2 years. In 2013, she began attending the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, a part of California State University, Long Beach, where she studied violin performance. In the past few years, Korina has performed in Italy and South Korea, played on the soundtrack of the award-winning independent film "Waiting in the Wings: The Musical", and performed with the band Bastille on the Ellen deGeneres show. Korina is currently finishing obtaining her Master's degree in Violin Performance from the Berklee School of Music in Spain.
Adrienne Woods || Cello
Adrienne Woods grew up in a musical family in the small southern town of Florence, South Carolina. She started playing the cello at age four, along with sibling Chris Woods on violin. She moved after attending the University of South Carolina after studying with cellist Robert Jesselson and jazz instructor Bert Ligon to hone her craft in Los Angeles. The Henry Mancini Institute introduced her to many other styles of music and musicians. Since being in Los Angeles, Adrienne has toured with John Legend, The Jonas Brothers, Ariana Grande, Adele and FKJ. She has played on the Tonight Show with Shaggy, Faith Evans, Josh Groban, Mariah Carey and Halle + Chloe. She has also been on the American Music Awards with Josh Groban, BET Awards with Ludacris and Mary J Blige, and recorded several music videos with artists such as Josh Groban, Kanye West and Gwen Stefani. Adrienne has performed on multiple shows such as The Voice, American Idol, The Oscars and The Emmys. She is a regular cellist for Lady Gaga's Jazz + Piano residency in Las Vegas.
Leah Metzler || Cello
Leah Metzler is an active performer and recording artist as both a solo and orchestral player. Her work can be heard on the scores of numerous movies, television series, albums, and commercials. She has been a regular member in the band Panic! At The Disco since 2018. Some of her TV appearances include performing with Jeff Lynne, Ed Sheeran, and Electric Light Orchestra at the 2015 Grammys and with Tyler, The Creator on Jimmy Kimmel Live. She has had the pleasure to work with artists such as Stevie Wonder, John Williams, The Wu Tang Clan, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Alan Silvestri, Deltron 3030, Cold War Kids, John Debney, Danny Elfman, Bruce Broughton, Alien Ant Farm, Meg Myers, Brian Wilson, and Frank Ocean. In 2014 Leah went on a world tour of 10 different countries with the Japanese super star Yoshiki. Leah holds her B.M. in cello performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she studied with cellist Darrett Adkins. She received her M.M. in cello performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied with former member of the Kronos Quartet, Jennifer Culp.
Emily Elkin || Cello
Emily is a classically trained cellist with a Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance. She is a freelance recording artist, a private instructor, and also works at a program called Spectrum Laboratory which teaches music and songwriting to young people with autism. She is also a cellist/vocalist of the LA based band LA River Bend. She currently lives in Los Angeles and was most recently seen performing with Halsey, Lindsey Stirling, Elvis Perkins, Chad and Jeremy, and Thee Oh Sees, Her playing can be heard in many film scores and national commercials.
Connor Bogenreif || Cello
Connor Bogenreif has received comprehensive training in performance, studying under Joon Sung Jun, Laszlo Mezo, Jacob Braun, Roger Lebow, Ian McKinnell, and Charles Baker. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University and went on to complete his Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach. Connor has performed extensively as an orchestral and chamber musician, as well as a soloist having performed in venues around the U.S. and Europe. Connor is a champion for new music, having collaborated with several composers on works newly written for him, in addition to recording for scores written for film and media. Connor has also performed as a part of the Hear Now Music Festival alongside members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In conjunction with being an active performing artist, Connor also holds a position with the Long Beach Symphony, teaches cello students privately, and coaches orchestras at schools throughout the area.