Béla Lugosi is a Classical/Punk/Comedy musical ensemble. Their inspiration
stems from the tragic actor Béla Lugosi and the "do it yourself" attitude of
ED Wood Jr.
Laura Aurora Hackstein (Violin, Toy Accordion, Pseudo Operatic Vocals,
Drums) is the hot blonde that keeps the men interested in classical music. She
started violin at age 4 and attended the San Francisco Conservatory. Her teachers
were Benedetto Greco, Ivry Gitlis, Nina Bodnar and Gilles
Apap. Her beauty and talent can be viewed in the film "The Unknown Fiddler
of Santa Barbara". Laura has been a recipient of the Leni Fe Bland Scholarship
award three times in a row. She had the privilege of performing with Ivry Gitlis
at Pont St. Esprit, France.
Misha Bodnar (Acoustic and Electric Cello, Kazoo, Vocals, Electric Guitar,
Bass, Piano, Drum Machine, 8 Track, Sampler) started cello when he was 6. At
13 He was principal cellist of the SB Youth Symphony and SB City College Orchestra.
When Misha was 16, he was one of the 12, out of 130 other cello players, to
be accepted to the Paris Conservatory. He continued his studies at the Manhattan
School of Music, U.S.C., San Francisco College of Recording Arts and the Conservatory
of Aix en Provence. His teachers were: Gabor Rejto, Nathanial Rosen, Maurice
Gendron and Torteiller. He has performed solo with the SB
Symphony, SLO Symphony, Santa Maria Symphony, Paris Conservatory Symphony,
Orchestre d' Pertuis, Orchestre d'Monte Carlo, L'Opera d' Marseille. He also
formed the "Le Trio D'Aix" with pianist Phillippe Ganter (a protege of Alfred
Cortot). Misha toured Europe as lead vocalist and electric cellist with his
trash/fusion group "Venus Bitch". His group opened and toured with such infamous
groups as: Suicide, Lord's of the New Church, Iggy Pop, The Legendary Pink Dots,
Johnny Thunders, Urban Dance Squad, L7, Faith no More. Misha teaches cello ensemble,
recording enginering and rock and roll at the Music and Arts Conservatory of
Santa Barbara.
Laura and Misha are faculty of the Music and Arts Conservatory of Santa Barbara.
E-mail: imbelalugosi@aol.com
www.thehumaneffort.com
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