Iva Casian-Lakos
Iva Casián-Lakoš is a versatile performer known for her “fiery cello playing” (David Lang via Sequenza 21) and her “exquisite fragility” in singing (Christian Carey, Sequenza 21). Her repertoire spans classical to contemporary works involving choreography, acting, singing, and improvisation. She has performed across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe with Bang on a Can All-Stars, American Modern Opera Company (AMOC), eco|tonal, PinkNoise, Synesthetic Project, and Unheard-of// Ensemble. In 2017 Iva co-founded Zagreb-based Ensemble Illyrica, who has been hailed for their “creative ecstasy, freshness, tonal harmony and rhythmic clarity” (Novi List). Illyrica has performed in major venues and festivals across Ireland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia, and released their debut album on Hitchtone Music in 2022.
Iva has recently collaborated with Joan La Barbara on an upcoming album featuring a solo work commissioned by Bang on a Can, performed at their inaugural Long Play Festival and Noguchi Museum series. She also works closely with composers such as Christopher Stark, David Crowell, and Chelsea Loew, and performs her own compositions.
As an educator, Iva has given masterclasses, lectures, and workshops at institutions including Columbia University, Northwestern University, New York University, Oberlin Conservatory, Simons Center for Physics and Geometry, Bowling Green State, and New Directions Cello Festival. She is also on the faculty at Musart Music in Syosset, New York. Iva holds degrees from Stony Brook University (DMA), New England Conservatory (MM) and Oberlin Conservatory (BM).
New York City-based cellist, singer, and improviser Iva Casian-Lakoš is known for her “fiery cello playing” (David Lang via Sequenza 21) and her “exquisite fragility” in singing (Christian Carey, Sequenza 21). Iva’s versatile repertoire spans from classical to contemporary works involving choreography, singing, acting, improvisation, and more. A first-generation American of Mexican Croatian descent, Iva has performed across the U.S., Mexico, and Europe with ensembles like Bang on a Can All-Stars, American Modern Opera Company (AMOC), Synesthetic Project, Ensemble Illyrica, eco|tonal, PinkNoise Ensemble, and Unheard-of//Ensemble.
Iva has recently recorded her debut solo album with legendary vocalist and composer Joan La Barbara, featuring a piece written for Iva commissioned by Bang on a Can and performed at Long Play Festival and Noguchi Museum. She frequently collaborates with and performs commissioned works by composers, including David Crowell, Christopher Stark, Ana Lopez (nnux), Chelsea Loew, Wang Lu, Joel Hoffman, as well as her own compositions.
In 2017, Iva co-founded Ensemble Illyrica, a Zagreb-based chamber ensemble that performs classical repertoire alongside folk-based music and newly commissioned pieces. Hailed for their “creative ecstasy, freshness, tonal harmony and rhythmic clarity,” (Novi List) Illyrica has performed in major venues and festivals across Europe, such as Lednice-Valtice Music Festival (CZ), Wiener Musikverein (AT), Zagreb Biennale (HR), Scena Amadeo (HR), Kultursommer Wien (AT), Festival Arsana (SI), and Hvar Summer Festival (HR). Their debut classical album was released on Hitchtone Music in 2022.
Iva has also performed in chamber settings with members of Sandbox Percussion, JACK, Emerson, Argus, the Rhythm Method, Calidore, and Ying quartets in chamber performances, and appearing in concert halls around the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center (Bruno Walter
Auditorium), Kennedy Center (Millennium Stage), and Jordan Hall. She has won top prizes in national competitions, including the Hellam Young Artists Competition, and has performed concertos with Columbus Symphony Orchestra, New Albany Symphony, and SEO Symphony Orchestra.
In 2019, Iva was invited to lecture at the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, where her performances and lecture were lauded as “excellent” and “enlightening” (SCGP News). She has also given workshops and masterclasses with Unheard-of//Ensemble, PinkNoise, and Wavefield Ensemble at Columbia University, New York University, UC Davis, Oberlin Conservatory, Kent State, Northwestern University, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, Illinois State, Washington U St. Louis, Bowling Green University, Columbus State, and Brooklyn College. Additionally, she has invited been a guest artist and gave workshops at Lake George Music Festival, New Directions Cello Festival, and CCI//San Antonio.
Iva earned her DMA from Stony Brook University in 2022, where she was awarded the Presidential Dissertation Completion Fellowship, Distinguished Travel Award, and Ackerman Chamber Music Award. She also holds a BM from Oberlin Conservatory and an MM from New England Conservatory.
Research and Academic Interests
Cello