ULTAN, Aliya

Aliya Ultan — often called the Nocturnal Cellist — is a composer and performer based in New York. Her work treats the cello as a shape-shifting voice moving between orchestral lyricism, cathartic noise, and deeply personal forms of storytelling.

Aliya has collaborated with artists including John Lurie (The Lounge Lizards), electroacoustic pioneer David Behrman, Aaron Dilloway (Wolf Eyes), saxophonist-composer Tim Berne, and composer-performers Tyshawn Sorey and George Lewis among others. Her interdisciplinary spirit frequently leads her to perform with puppeteers, dancers, and circus acrobats associated with Cirque du Soleil and the Bread and Puppet Theater—most notably touring with the internationally renowned collective Poncili Creación.

Aliya holds a BM from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in cello and composition under the tutelage of composer, Dr. Stephen Hartke and cellist, Darrett Adkins. Additionally, Aliya began a MM at Wesleyan University under the tutelage of composers Alvin Lucier and Dr. Tyshawn Sorey before leaving due to Covid. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Composition and Computer Technologies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA.