Biography
Lithuanian cellist Galya Sky is known for her distinctive ethereal sound, skill of playing in a wide variety of genres and incorporation of effect pedals in her music. Influenced by symphonic orchestration and Baltic/Nordic folk, Galya creates a graceful interplay between gentle eerie melodies and low ground-shaking drones.
From a young age, music has been an integral part of her life, which very soon was filled with masterclasses, courses and competitions all over Europe and Northern Asia. In 2016 Galya moved to the Netherlands where she graduated from Classical Bachelor and NAIP Master of Music under the guidance of jazz cellist Ernst Reijseger. Right there, she shaped her artistry and gained experience in composing, arranging, recording, and improvising regardless of the genre, often assisted by the layers of her effect pedals and electronics.
Ever since, Galya Sky is constantly involved in interesting collaborations with theaters, visual artists, classical music and Baroque projects, dancers, jazz ensembles, rock/metal bands, pop singers, bigbands and jazz orchestras. Alongside the everchanging projects, she is actively playing with StageStrings quartet, Sutarti vocal quartet, Trimalis trio and cello solo project with live electronics. Furthermore, Galya is the founder of a Baltic Folk ensemble "Šaknys" (Lith. Roots) where she focuses on preserving cultural heritage and celebrating the power of nature.
Projects
FOUNDER / Co-Founder in:
2019-present
‘Stage Strings’ classical/folk string quartet
2020-present
Solo cello performances - Galya Sky
2023-present
‘ŠAKNYS’ neo-folk band (founder)
2024-present
‘Trimalis’ world-jazz trio
PLAYING WITH:
'Dixieland Crackerjacks' jazz band
‘Sutarti’ folk vocal quartet
‘Liktužė’ folk vocal ensemble
‘Rasodas’ folk ensemble
'Stillness trio'
'Cosmic Orchestra'
'Lily's Wave'
Theatre Collaborations
'Antigone’ theatre play Groninger Toneel, NL. 2019.
‘Entropy’ by Nicholas Thayer, cello parts for Zurich Ballet Junior Company, Switzerland. 2021.
‘Het Veendammer Leven’ operette, Veendam, NL. 2023.
‘Opera Forward Festival’, Nationale Opera & Ballet Amsterdam, NL. 2024.
‘Stuk Ijzer!’ theatre play, Gelderland Muziek, NL. 2024.
‘Bethlehem’ theatre play, Oosterwijtwerd, NL. 2024-2025.
ORCHESTRA EXPERIENCE
Juozas Gruodis string orchestra. 2012-2016, Lithuania.
Prins Claus conservatorium symphony orchestra. 2016, the Netherlands.
Hanze Symphony Orchestra. 2019, Germany.
Noordpool Orkest. 2019, the Netherlands.
PCC string orchestra 2019, the Netherlands.
Jong Metropole orkest 2021-2023, the Netherlands.
Greenbeats Orchestral Explosion 2022, Germany.
StageBand bigband 2022-2023, the Netherlands.
NJO PopOrkest 2023, the Netherlands.
Metal Orchestra project 2023, the Netherlands.
2008-2012
Mikas Petrauskas music school. Kaunas, Lithuania
Aleksandras Kačanauskas music school. Kaunas, Lithuania
2012-2016
Juozas Gruodis conservatoire. Kaunas, Lithuania
| Classical Cello
2016-2020
Prince Claus conservatorium. Groningen, the Netherlands
| Bachelor of Classical Music - Cello
2020-2023
Prince Claus conservatorium. Groningen, the Netherlands
| Master of Music - NAIP Cello (teacher Ernst Reijseger)
Education
Gallery
'Galya's performances are transformative, blending genres and emotions, leaving audiences spellbound and inspired every time.'
-Anna Raya
★★★★★
"Galya is the first on my musician list because hearing her work really brought to my attention the amazing sounds of the cello. Before listening to her, I only thought of the cello as part of an orchestra. Hearing her playing the cello in a band, alone, or using it like a guitar was mesmerizing. She also sings with a rich ethereal voice that could easily fit in with jazz, the blues, or any other genre. Her playing is diverse from traditional, metal, jazz, pop to improvisational.'
-CAEDAR WRITING & ARTWORK blog
GALYA SKY
Empowering through unconventional sounds and genres.
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