Cellist and composer Jonathon Wiest relishes the challenge of presenting unfamiliar music to new audiences, often in collaboration with other composers, performers, and artists.
Equally at home in classical and popular musical styles, Jon has established himself as a cellist who brings an infectious enthusiasm to every performance, whether as a soloist, with a chamber ensemble, or with a rock band. His advocacy for the performance of new music has resulted in several collaborations with composers and the subsequent premieres of their work. As a composer himself, he also actively writes concert music and music for film. Jon’s further interest in digital synthesis has brought his work a technological bent that informs both his performing and his composition.
Jon has music degrees in music composition and cello performance from Calvin College, and Temple University. He both performs as a concerto soloist and often in recital. He maintains an active teaching studio in Chicago’s west suburbs, and his students are regularly named to Illinois’s All-State orchestra. Together with his wife, Christine, they manage the White Lake Quartet, a string ensemble that performs at weddings and other events. He collaborates with musicians across the world via his home studio, recording sessions for their projects, and conducting live improvisation jams.
As a day job, Jon works as a Remodeling Contractor in Naperville and Aurora.