Brooklyn-based cellist, singer, and improviser Iva Casian-Lakos is a versatile performer known for her “fiery cello playing” (David Lang via Sequenza 21) and for singing “with an exquisite fragility” (Christian Carey, Sequenza 21). Her repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary works involving choreography, acting, 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 first album on Hitchtone Music in 2022.
Iva has recently collaborated with legendary vocalist and composer Joan La Barbara on an upcoming album featuring a new work for singing-cellist, commissioned by Bang on a Can and performed at their inaugural Long Play Festival and Noguchi Museum series. She has also worked closely with composers Christopher Stark, Wang Lu, David Crowell, and Reiko Füting— and performs works of her own.
As an educator, Iva has given masterclasses, lectures, and workshops at colleges and festivals across the country, such as New York University, Oberlin Conservatory, Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Miami University, New Directions Cello Festival, Lake George Music Festival, and more. She is on faculty at Vassar College and Musart Music.
Iva holds degrees from Stony Brook University (DMA.), New England Conservatory (M.M.) and Oberlin Conservatory (B.M.).