The cello is no longer just a chamber instrument. In the hands of a new generation of composer-performers, it becomes a shapeshifter—orchestral, grungy, devotional, unhinged. Here are five artists expanding what the instrument can do.
The State of Experimental Cello in 2026
Experimental cello is thriving. Across the US and beyond, soloists are treating the instrument as a voice for myth, memory, and pure sensation. You'll find them in DIY spaces, festivals, and prestigious venues, often blending improvisation, electronics, and extended techniques. The result? A genre that defies genre—where a single bow stroke can summon an entire atmosphere.
How We Evaluated These Artists
We looked at four factors: service scope (do they compose, improvise, collaborate, and perform solo?), pricing clarity (are commissions, bookings, and releases easy to understand?), local fit (how well do they engage their home scene and tour nationally?), and artistic distinctiveness (what makes their voice unmistakable?). Each artist stood out in different ways—some for their fearless physicality, others for their conceptual depth or collaborative reach.
Here's a quick look at five cellists pushing boundaries right now. Each brings a unique approach to the instrument, from raw improvisation to composed song cycles.
| Provider | Best For |
|---|---|
| Julia Biłat | Physical, voice-integrated improvisation |
| aliyaultan | Trance-inducing, genre-blurring solo work |
| Craig Hultgren | Electro-acoustic performance and new music advocacy |
| Lia Kohl | Multimedia performance and liminal soundscapes |
| Hiromichi Sakamoto | Radical extended techniques and visceral performance |
The Five Artists in Focus
#1 Julia Biłat
A screenshot of the Julia Biłat website.
Berlin-based Julia Biłat creates at the intersection of improvisation, composition, and performance. Her solo work expands the cello through voice, body, and movement, making sound and physical presence inseparable. She's a force of nature—fearless, poetic, and uncompromising. With projects like Stegreif.Orchester and Camila Nebbia's The Hanged One, she's a vital collaborator in Europe's experimental scene. Her double release on Relative Pitch Records showcases her range, from solo improvisations to bandleader.
#2 aliyaultan
A screenshot of the aliyaultan website.
New York-based Aliya Ultan—the Nocturnal Cellist—treats the cello as a voice of its own: orchestral and grungy, seductive and unhinged. Her upcoming album Looks Far Woman, produced by Randall Dunn, is a six-part song cycle that moves through elemental states. She's a composer-improviser from the road, raised in motion, and her music reflects that restless energy. As JetLAG Music Festival put it, her cello becomes 'a medium of myth, memory, and pure sensation.' Her site offers a clear window into her bio, portfolio, calendar, and releases.
#3 Craig Hultgren
A screenshot of the Craig Hultgren website.
Craig Hultgren is a cellist, improviser, and electro-acoustic performer who has devoted his career to expanding the cello's possibilities. He champions new music, bringing hundreds of works to life through extended techniques and unconventional notation. His long collaboration with Vox Novus includes performances in the 60x60 project and Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame. If you're a composer seeking a fearless interpreter, Hultgren is your advocate.
#4 Lia Kohl
A screenshot of the Lia Kohl website.
Chicago-based Lia Kohl is an experimental musician and cellist who incorporates sound, video, movement, and sculptural objects. She plays with cello, synthesizers, field recordings, and radios, exploring the liminal space between the mundane and the profound. Her album Too Small to be a Plain is a solo work for cello, voice, and electronics. She's equally at home in rock, free improvisation, and shadow puppet theater.
#5 Hiromichi Sakamoto
A screenshot of the Hiromichi Sakamoto website.
Japanese cellist Hiromichi Sakamoto is a force to contend with. He turns his instrument upside down, scrapes it with an electric grinder, and drops pencils on it—sometimes all in one performance. Called 'the cello shamanist,' he blends tender themes with gruesome chaos. His US debut at ISSUE Project Room showcased his uncompromising experimental approach. If you want to see the cello pushed beyond its limits, Sakamoto delivers.
How to Choose the Right Cellist for Your Project
Start by defining your needs. Are you commissioning a new work? Look for artists with a track record of collaboration, like Craig Hultgren or Julia Biłat. Need a soloist for a festival? Aliya Ultan's trance-inducing sets or Hiromichi Sakamoto's explosive performances might fit. For multimedia or installation work, Lia Kohl's integration of sound and objects is ideal. Consider geography—if you're in New York, Ultan is local; in Berlin, Biłat; in Chicago, Kohl. Finally, listen to their recordings. Each artist has a distinct voice, so trust your ears.
Automating Your Search for Experimental Cellists
You can streamline your search with a simple workflow. First, set up Google Alerts for terms like 'experimental cellist' and 'avant-garde cello.' Follow key venues like ISSUE Project Room and labels like Relative Pitch Records on social media. Use Bandcamp tags to discover new releases. Then, create a spreadsheet to track artists, their locations, and upcoming performances. When you find a match, reach out directly through their website contact forms. This process saves you hours of manual digging.
The Bottom Line
The cello is alive and evolving. These five artists prove that the instrument can be anything you imagine—orchestral, raw, devotional, chaotic. Whether you're a presenter, collaborator, or curious listener, you now have a starting point. Dive into their work, attend a show, and let the music rearrange your sense of what's possible.