Highland Hall's handwork teacher Mona Lewis has a lot to be smiling about these days. Her eldest daughter, Nita Strauss, class of 2005, has become quite a sensation in the world of rock music. Previously voted #1 of female hard rock guitarists, Nita was recently interviewed in Rolling Stone Magazine.
Although Nita's mother may have had some initial doubts about her strong-willed daughter's career in the rock world, she decided that she needed to let go and let Nita find her own path...which she did, and it seems to be working out pretty well. In fact, an article about her daughter recently appeared in the Rolling Stone magazine.
Nita Strauss Proves Shred Guitar's Not Dead, By Richard Bienstock, October 27, 2015
"At 28 years old, Nita Strauss has already traveled a long and varied path to her current position — shredding arena stages as a guitarist in Alice Cooper's band. The Los Angeles native has played everything from corrosive deathcore (with As Blood Runs Black), to classic funk (with Jermaine Jackson) and symphonic-rock renditions of video-game themes (with Critical Hit). Her most visible pre-Cooper gig, however, was as a member of the Iron Maidens, a ripping all-female tribute to the British metal legends. As for her diverse résumé, she says, "A lot of being a guitarist, especially in L.A., is being in the right place at the right time. But more than anything, you have to be prepared — be better than anyone else out there, and leave no doubt with your playing."