BIOGRAPHY

PERFORMER

Megan Gould (violin) is one of NYC's most versatile performers of Middle Eastern, Greek and popular music. Her comfort within a wide range of styles, her responsiveness to other musicians on stage, and a soulful improvisational style make Megan a sought-after element in many musical projects. Since completing a Master's Degree in Ethnomusicology (with a concentration on the Middle East) from the University of London, she has performed around the world in cities as far-flung as Paris, London, Budapest, Copenhagen and Dubai, and has toured extensively throughout the US, appearing at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and on TV and radio broadcasts for NBC, PBS, MTV and NPR. She has performed onstage with popular artists such as David Byrne, Natalie Merchant, John Mellencamp, Sean Lennon and Donovan,  with jazz notables Fabian Almazan, Wayne Horvitz and Jenny Scheinman, with legendary Greek composer Giannis Markopoulos and the beloved Greek singers Alkistis Protopsaltis, Kostas Makedonas and Vasilis Papakonstantinou, and as part of the Silk Road Ensemble. Her work has appeared on many and varied recordings and film soundtracks for artists including Lou Reed, Philip Glass, Natalie Merchant, Metallica and Nico Muhly. While taking on a significant amount of freelance work, her ongoing positions include Assistant Music Director of the New York Arabic Orchestra under Lebanese master musician Bassam Saba, a violinist in Natalie Merchant's touring quartet, first violin in Fabian Almazan's Rhizome ensemble and in Greek 'oud virtuoso Mavrothi Kontanis' Maeandros Ensemble, Principal Second Violin of the Bard Conductor's Institute Orchestra, and violinist/baglama player for the popular Greek band Mikrokosmos. Currently she resides in upstate NY, close to New York City, where she performs and records with groups ranging from traditional Arabic to rock.

ARRANGER

Megan's work as an arranger and composer has also crossed genres. She is a frequent string arranger for popular music groups, as well as for world music projects ranging from Greek to fusion.

She also creates full orchestral arrangements for film soundtracks.

Her arrangements have appeared on recordings by:

Natalie Merchant

The Epichorus

Bowery Boy Blue

Divahn

The Salt Lake Philharmonic

Shir-Yaakov Feinstein Feit

Mild Mannered Rebel

Monika Jalili: NoorSaaz

The Mary Janes

Zeb Gould

Eric Wood

Una Winterman