Grammy award winning fiddler/composer/singer/songwriter LISA GUTKIN is one of NYC's busiest musicians. Her varied musical palette has led to collaborations with a wide array of artists in the United States and Europe, the founding of the 'Downtown Celtic' group, Whirligig, to joining world-reknowned superstars of the klezmer world, The Klezmatics, and to becoming a fellow of the MacDowell Artist Colony.

Born in Brooklyn to a musical family, Lisa's early memories of sitting under the piano while her grandmother played, and of folk dancing with her mother, have shaped her career. Lisa played in the District, Boro, and City Wide orchestras from age 8 through high school, won several awards for her classical playing, and during her teens began playing Rock, Bluegrass and Irish music.

photo by Fumie Suzuki

While earning her Bachelor of Music degree in classical violin at the Aaron Copland School, Queens College, N.Y., Lisa's versatility quickly attracted the international musical community. She played with the Southern Italian music theater group I Giullari di Piazza, with Amigos del Tango, and with Early Music’s The Waverly Consort, placed first in the Redwood Mountain Fiddle Contest, traveled to Ireland, and as part of the Fast Folk collective, performed with Rod MacDonald, Jack Hardy, Richard Shindell, The Roches, Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, and many more.

As an improviser, Lisa has worked with Jane Siberry, John Cale & Bob Neuwirth with the Soldier String Quartet, Joe Gallant & Illuminati, contemporary R&B artist Pru, poet Imelda O’Reilly with Joel Diamond on piano, and Peter Knight of Steeleye Span. For several years prior to joining the Klezmatics, Lisa focused mostly on traditional Irish and Scottish music, playing and recording with Tommy Sands, John Whelan, Pat Kilbride, Jerry O'Sullivan, Steve Cooney, Cathie Ryan, and Ed Miller, and in the bands Whirligig and An Cré (which means the earth's clay in Irish) with John Redmond and Brendan Dolan.

Lisa’s theater credits include Mabou Mines' Peter & Wendy, where she was chosen by Johnny Cunningham to fill in for him in, Pilobolous Dance Company’s Davenen (with The Klezmatics), Ralph Lee's Mettawee River Company, Pat Cannon's Foot & Fiddle Dance Company, and The Phoenix Theater Company’s As You Like It. She was Music Director for The Lincoln Center Director's Guild Production Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, Music Director for the New York Renaissance Festival in Sterling Forest, NY, and co-orchestrater for Song of Songs by Elizabeth Swados. Her on screen appearances include documentaries aired on European and American Public Television, and Sex & The City where the Klezmatics played the band for Charlotte's wedding.

Lisa began writing fiddle tunes in her late teens, then larger instrumental pieces, and most recently songs with lyrics. Her composing projects include a full symphonic rendition, orchestrated by John Marino, of her piece "Waiting Still," performed by The Klezmatics with symphonies in Hungary and Germany, music for Dragon Productions' Seeing Is Believing, with Dutch choreographer Maggie Boogaart, Jody Oberfelder's Landmark of Dreams, Mabou Mines' Song for New York: What Women Do While Men Sit Knitting, and several episodes of the final season of HBO's Sex & The City

Perhaps the most highly acclaimed composition of Lisa's career is Gonna Get Through This World, her first published song, written in 2003 to Woody Guthrie's lyrics. It is being covered by several singer/songwriters, used by dance companies, arranged for chorus, and appeared on the album: Wonder Wheel with lyrics by Woody Guthrie, which won the 2006 Grammy Award for "Best Contemporary World Music Album of the Year."

Respected as well for her teaching abilities, Lisa leads fiddle styles workshops at folk festivals, as well as master classes and artist residencies for universities and folk organizations, and many of her private students are or have gone on to become professional musicians.

Lisa currently tours with the Klezmatics and as a soloist, and occasionally plays bluegrass with The Demolition String Band in their Ola Belle Reed project, and Irish and original tunes and songs with Pamela Wyn Shannon.

To contact Lisa, please send an email to .