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About Lunas

Ann Mesrobian - Violin
Deborah Schmidt Collier - Classical Guitar
Billie Woods - Celtic Harp and Piano

Starting with a spooktacular Halloween '03 debut in full costume at Buescher State Park, Tres Lunas spiraled onto the central Texas music scene with an adventurous concert schedule, producing nine concerts in their first four years, six of them as benefits for non-profit groups based in Bastrop County.

After releasing their first CD Moonrise in April '05, they began performing regularly at the Bugle Boy in La Grange ("the best little listening hall in Texas"), and at the Tree House Italian Grill off South Congress in Austin. In August '05 they were voted "Best Local Band" in the Bastrop Advertiser's Best of Bastrop poll, an honor they received again in '07.

They performed on Earth Day '07 at the historic Bastrop Opera House and in November as part of the Concerts in the Afternoon series. They also threw a Blue Moon Soiree II in June '07 at the former RoseMinn, now Kingfisher Fine Art & Music, returning there to celebrate the release of their second CD, of Her hand, in December '07.

The trio's signature classic-eclectic charm blends classical discipline with light-hearted whimsy to the delight of audiences in restaurants, coffee houses, and other venues including the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Green Chai and Scooters Coffee House in Bastrop, Javamotion in Lockhart, and Saradora's in Round Rock.

Deborah June Schmidt Collier is a sixth generation Texan and almost-native Austinite, who has lived in Bastrop County since 1984. Born in Harlingen, her family moved to Austin when she was one year old. In her early 20s, she began classical guitar lessons with Cindy Horstman, now a recognized jazz harpist in the Dallas area.

A few years later she became a 10-year student of the revered Austin-based guitarist, violinist, and composer, Joseph Castle. She studied with him until he passed away in 1992, and he continues to be a major influence on her playing, often appearing on the front row of her imagination to offer encouragement.

Deborah is co-owner of New Moon Yoga, and as a devoted yogini she struggles daily to maintain hopeful optimism for a more peaceful planet.
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Ann Mesrobian grew up in Honolulu after her family moved there from New York when she was 4 years old. Her father was a violinist, orchestra director, and her first and favorite teacher, her mother was a pianist and violinist, and her sister was a cellist.

Ann grew up playing viola because she loved the deeper tone of the instrument and to round out the family string quartet. She performed in orchestras under her father’s baton through high school, continuing music for pleasure while earning degrees in Anthropology and Art History at the University of Washington.

She put down her instrument for 10 years to pursue a field archeology career that took her through seven western states and landed her in Texas in 1984. Picking up music again in 1990, this time on violin, she played four years with the 10-piece Bastrop Left Bank All Star Jug Band Revue, then formed the trio Troika (1995-2003) with Franci and Stephen Jarrard.

In 1990 she co-founded the Bastrop County Environmental Network and remains an advocate for conservation and preservation of our life support system known as planet Earth in her home county and beyond. She has served since 2000 as environmental representative on the board of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District.
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billie Billie Greer Woods, born and raised in Henderson, Texas, began playing the piano by ear at age four. Her earliest performance memory was standing on top of a picnic table singing "Chantilly Lace" at her cousin's 4th birthday party - Billie was just 3 years of age.

After taking classical piano lessons from age seven through high school, she moved to Austin in 1972 to attend the University of Texas. Majoring in music education with a focus on piano and voice, she received her bachelor's degree from UT in 1976. During her college career, she took harp classes for elective credits and fell in love with the instrument. But harp playing would have to wait another 25 years before becoming part of her musical life.

Although Billie has been musically involved throughout her life performing, conducting, teaching, and composing, her favorite musical challenge is creating interesting and complex arrangements, usually with an ear towards luscious jazz chord structures.

In recent years, she has also become a committed student and practitioner of vibrational sound therapy. She is the founder and sole proprietor of Sound Mandala, offering private and group sound healing sessions using crystal and Himalayan singing bowls. She has been a resident of Bastrop County, Texas since 1994.
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