September 24th, 2018
Doors 7. Music 7:30.
Chicago based cellist and composer Lilianna Zofia Wosko performs a solo set followed by a duo with rising star Ben LaMar Gay on cornet.
LILIANNA ZOFIA WOSKO is a Chicago based classically trained cellist with primary focus on solo and chamber music performance. Lilianna received her Masters in Music in Cello Performance from Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performaning Arts Music Conservatory.
Lilianna has appeared with classical, jazz, new music and international music ensembles in the Chicago area and abroad. She has performed with the Illinois Philharmonic, The Paderewski Symphony Orchestra, and Lira Ensemble, and was a principal cellist of The New North Shore Chamber Orchestra. In her commitment to expanding her repertoire, Lilianna incorporates elements of different musical genres into her style and has been a part of Alama de Tango Ensenmble, Tangata Ensable, Tomorrow Music Orchestra, Dolce String Quartet, and Star Gate Orchestra. Often asked to perform for various cultural and music events, Lilianna has been a part of MusicNow concert series at the Chicago’s Harris Theater for Music and Dance, The Rose of Stambul production at Chopin Theatre with Chicago Folks Operatta, Chris Preissing’s Thunder Perfect Mind production with NON:op, and has played with Borderbend Arts Collective at the Baha'i Temple as part of Devotions with Music series.
Actively involved in the Chicago music community, Lilianna has worked and performed with Fred Lonberg-Holm, Frank Rosaly, Paul Giallorenzo, Matt Ulery, Mike Reed, Timothy Daisy, Joel Styzens, Eric Leonardson, Christopher Preissing, Ben LaMar, Renee Baker, Quinlan Kirchner, Kahil El Zabar, and Theaster Gates.
Lilianna has recorded music for commercials at Earhole Studios, performed and recorded with Grazyna Auguscik, and released four of her own CDs : My Christmas, Edited to form, and Episodes 1-12, and Lilianna Zofia Wosko.
Photo credit: Kasia Jarosz
BEN LAMAR GAY is a composer/cornetist/vocalist/producer who moves components of sound, color and space through folkloric filters to produce brilliant electro-acoustic collages. The unification of various styles is always in service of the narrative and never a pretentious display of technique. Gay's true technique is giving life to an idea while transforming the thought and theory of the term “Americana”.
His musical influences derive from his collection of experiences in the Americas (North, Central and South) and the gathered data channeled by technology and its amplifying accessibility. The fact that the world is closer via technology and that everyone has access to the possibility of exploring different ideas, makes his avant-garde version of “Americana” very global. Embracing international vision while remaining true to his roots, Ben's creative output aligns with the honest notion that he only knows how to be a man from the South side of Chicago.
Active in both the vibrant experimental scenes in Chicago and Brazil, including a 3 year residency, has allow him to collaborate with a number of vital figures in the world of music. The list includes: George Lewis, Itibere Zwarg, Theaster Gates, Celso Fonseca, Theo Parrish, Waajeed (Slum Village), Mike Reed, Steve Spacek, Mark Pritchard (Africa Hi-Tech), Renee Baker, Bixiga70 and the Association of the Advancement of Creative Musicians, to name a few.
