artist website: https://wytoldmusic.com

social links:

William Wytold Lebing (aka ‘Wytold’) is a cellist, composer, educator, and scorer for film, theater, and dance productions. Wytold plays acoustic and electric cellos with two extra strings that capture the depth and power of a stand-up bass, the rich tonal timbre of the acoustic cello, and the bright crispness of violin solos and harmonies. He has performed his live-looping blend of classical inspiration, contemporary rhythms and jazz improvisation with the National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Princeton Symphony, on stage with nationally touring contemporary dance company Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, as a featured presenter at TEDx Foggy Bottom, and in the scores of feature documentary films including HBO’s We Are Not Done Yet, the Sundance award-winning film Blood Brother, and New Chefs on the Block. In addition, Wytold has led many performances and workshops that help veterans and their families heal through creating art in military hospitals, USOs, and the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Mission Belonging. Wytold ’s extensive work as an educator, composer, and musician includes master classes for Levine School of Music, Duke Ellington School for the Arts, American University, and Strathmore Performing Arts Center, performances for the Kennedy Center’s NSO Family Concert Series with frequent “Classical Hip-Hop” collaborator Christylez Bacon, and performances and workshops at schools and community venues throughout the DC region. Wytold was the recipient of the 2018 Montgomery County Executive Award for Artistic Excellence and the 2017 “Best Six-String Electric Cellist” from the Washington City Paper’s Best Of.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES:

Engaging, educational performances, workshops, and residencies for schools, libraries, and other community settings. Programs may be presented in-person or virtually and may be tailored to students in grades preK-12, families, college students, and adults.

PERFORMANCES:

Fireflies, Fairies, & Squids

What kind of sound does a giant squid make? How can you make a stringed instrument sound like a firefly illuminating a cave? Wytold explores these questions and more as he leads students on a journey of storytelling and imagination through instrumental music. Wytold demonstrates how he uses the six-string cello and live electronics to score film, dance, and theater productions, and shows how simple sounds can create vivid images and exciting stories in our minds. Students collaborate with Wytold to create a new musical story and adventure together! May also be scheduled as a workshop theme, to provide additional opportunities for in-depth exploration and story creation.

The Science of Sound: Music Theory Demystified

Six-string cellist and composer Wytold shows students how his background in science and math helps him create exciting new music. By exploring the relationship between the science of waves and musical scales, as well as live electronics and wild effects on the cello, students learn how basic patterns in the world can create interesting and dynamic music. Students use their new knowledge to create a short musical piece together as a group. Duo program option also available. May also be scheduled as a workshop theme, to provide additional opportunities for hands-on learning and collaborative music creation.

Duos with Christylez Bacon:

Classical Hip-Hop

Remixing the classics, this program merges the contrasting worlds of classical and hip-hop music in a collaborative musical program featuring progressive hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon and six-string electric cellist, Wytold. Traditional elements of hip-hop such as human beatbox, rhyming, and storytelling are blended with classical compositions of composers like Bach, Vivaldi, and Pachelbel. The Classical Hip-Hop 2.0 sequel program fuses additional pieces by Bach, Strauss, Beethoven, and Vivaldi with live-looping technology and hip-hop compositions.

Beats, Bows, & Remixes

Join Christylez Bacon and Wytold as hip-hop and classical music collide with multi-cultural collaboration, transforming well-known songs into new compositions. Learn how these musicians work as a team, listening to each other's different backgrounds and perspectives as they shape modern versions of all-time favorites, like Hot Cross Buns. Create a team remix with Christylez and Wytold that twists and turns a familiar tune into a brand-new musical invention.

WORKSHOPS, MASTER CLASSES, & RESIDENCIES:

Hands-on workshop, residency and master class options are tailored to age and musical experience and explore music creation and composition in depth, as well as connections to math, science, language arts, and social emotional learning. Workshops and master classes may complement performance programs or customized curriculum connections, and may be scheduled individually, in a series, or as part of an artist residency.