About

Kirin McElwain is a cellist and improviser who works as a collaborator and soloist in a variety of disciplines, including music, dance, and visual art. Her approach to music-making is informed by her longterm study of the Alexander Technique as well as her desire to use the cello as a means of responding to and translating sound, movement, and language.

Kirin has shared the stage with with pianist Judith Gordon, John Vanderslice, tune-yards, Boyz II Men, and Vulfpeck. She was the cellist for the world premiere of the ballet “Almost Morning” with original score by Jeff Beal (House of Cards) at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater with the Claudia Schreier Dance Company. For two years she was the cellist for the band Miracles of Modern Science, with whom she toured the United States, Canada, and Sweden, and was named a member of the 2016 YouTube Music Foundry.

Kirin holds a B.A. in Economics from Smith College and a M.M. from Temple University. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Music

Selected Repertoire*
Cello Suites No. 1-5, J.S. Bach
Rio del Tizon, Yu-Hui Chang
Suite for Solo Cello No. 1, Ernest Bloch
Song of the Birds, Traditional Catalan arr. Pablo Casals
Appalachia Waltz, Mark O'Connor
Vast Steppe, Laurie San Martin
In Manus Tuas, Caroline Shaw
Suite for Solo Cello, John Harbison

*Additional repertoire and sample programs available upon request.

Videos

Past groupmuses (3)

• 

  Guitar & Cello in Noho

  Sunday, Nov 20, 2022 7:30 PM EST

  • Neighborhood: Noho
  • Composers: San Martin, Reyes Llinás, Shaw, Brouwer
  • Instruments: Solo Guitar & Solo Cello
  • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

  Happened over 1 year ago

• 

  Two Cellos Playing Baroque and a Suprise or Two

  Friday, Nov 2, 2018 6:30 PM EDT

  • Neighborhood: Brooklyn Heights
  • Composers: Gabrielli, Telemann, Buononcini, Zyman
  • Instruments: Cello duo
  • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

  Happened over 5 years ago

• 

  Classical Music in Downtown Brooklyn

  Saturday, Jan 20, 2018 7:00 PM EST

  • Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn
  • Composers: Bach, Shaw
  • Instruments: Solo Cello
  • Price: $5 to reserve, $20+ at event

  Happened over 6 years ago