An Evening with Ben Sollee

Over the last two decades, Kentuckian Ben Sollee has distinguished himself as a multi-faceted creative, blurring the lines between music, tech, and experiential design. As a cellist, songwriter, and storyteller, he has toured the globe—sometimes by bicycle—performing his original music. As a composer, he has created music for stage, screen, and virtual reality apps, earning an Emmy Award for his 2018 score for Base Ballet. As a producer, he has curated hundreds of live events including experiences for the Speed Art Museum and Lincoln Center. Throughout it all, he has continued to advocate for people and the land by creating and curating experiences that grow a greater sense of togetherness.

“The throughline for all my various projects is togetherness,” says Sollee of his music and creative work. “Whether I’m producing a live experience or developing a virtual reality app, my purpose is the same: to include rather than exclude and help humans grow their affection for each other and the environment.” Sollee’s body of work bears this out.

His latest record, Kentucky Native, blends traditional bluegrass with influences from Kentucky’s latest immigrant population. In 2010, Sollee teamed up with songwriter Daniel Martin Moore and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James to create Dear Companion, a record raising awareness about the devastating practice of mountain top removal strip mining in Appalachia. In fact, his advocacy for the environment is what led him to film composing.