Lori Goldston plays written, traditional, and spontaneous work on the cello and works as a composer, teacher, producer, bandleader, and prolific, widely varied collaborator. 

Classically trained and rigorously de-trained, self-described as “semi-feral,” her voice as a cellist is singular, deeply textured, and original, investigating thresholds, instability, and connections between far-flung modes of thought. She travels throughout the US and abroad, often working in artist-run spaces with an eye for bridging communities.  

Well known for her work touring with Nirvana and contributing to their Unplugged In New York live album, she works prolifically and with composers, film makers, writers, theater directors, choreographers, visual artists, orchestras, and bands including Earth, BBC Scottish Symphony, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Ya Tseen, Judith Hamann, Mirah, David Byrne, Jem Finer, Jessika Kenney, Lonnie Holley, Trimpin, Stuart Dempster, Shelley Hirsch, Maya Dunietz, Michael Hurley, Chris Cochrane, Laura Cannell, Ilan Volkov, Charles Hayward, Jem Finer, Embryo, Josephine Foster, Mik Quantius, Jooklo, Ghedalia Tezartes, Senga Nengudi, Ellen Fullman, Lynn Shelton, Terry Riley, and many, many others. She’s composed and performed live scores with dozens of experimental and early silent films throughout the US, Europe, Australia, and Mexico. 

Her solo and collaborative work has been released by Mississippi Records, Nyahh, Relative Pitch, Eiderdown, Yo Yo, K Records, Sub Rosa, Second Editions, Sub Pop, PIAPTK, Full Spectrum, Marginal Frequency, and Broken Clover, among others; in 2026, she will release an album on ESP-Disk.