Paul Sottnik
COMPOSER
ACCOMPANIST
SONGWRITER
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Paul is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and performer currently living, teaching and working in Chicago, IL. Since earning a BA in music from Fredonia University they have worked extensively as a dance accompanist with many prestigious companies including Hubbard Street Dance, The Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Austin. They have composed music for "Echo Modern Dance Collective" and "A Theater in the Dark". Currently, they work with Second City Chicago as "BlueCo" music director.
MANAGER OF SOTTNIK MUSIC AND MELA COLLECTIVE
creating projects since 2015
COMPOSER
"Slate" 2022
for Echo Modern Dance Collective
(contemporary dance music video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r_zbhJ457U
"A Matter of Red Herrings" 2022
for A Theater in the Dark
(Background music for comedy radio play / podcast about noir detectives in Chicago 1929)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk8fPBFhbpI
"A Murder in the Court of Xanadu" 2022
for A Theater in the Dark
(Background music for a fictional radio play / podcast about political schemings in the mountain kingdom of Xanadu)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VchVv67VkfY
MUSIC DIRECTOR / PIANIST
Second City Chicago "BlueCo" 2023
“Ballad of Left and Crabbe” (Workshop) Understudy Theater 2019
“Barney the Elf” Pride Arts Center 2018
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” Buffalo’s Theater of Youth 2017
“Guys and Dolls” 17’ and “Beauty and the Beast” 18’ at Catherine O’hara HS
“Beauty and the Beast” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Please Change” Cobblestone Arts Center 2017
“Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat” 16’ at Theater in the Mist
"420 The Musical" 2016 and 2017
BALLET CLASS ACCOMPIANIST
CHICAGO, IL 2018-2022
The Joffrey Ballet
Hubbard Street Dance
Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Northwestern University
Common Conservatory
Chicago Movement Collective
Visceral Dance Center
Chicago High Scool for the Arts
Hyde Park School of Dance
Chicago Ballet Arts
Dance Works Chicago
Ballet Chicago
AUSTIN, TX 2021
Ballet Austin
Dance Institute
Community Ballet
BUFFALO, NY 2016-2018
University of Buffalo
CONTEMPORARY CLASS ACCOMPIANIST
CHICAGO, IL 2018-2021
Chicago High Scool for the Arts
Hyde Park School of Dance Chicago, IL
AUSTIN, TX 2021
The University of Texas
BUFFALO, NY 2016-2018
University of Buffalo
TAP CLASS ACCOMPANIST
CHICAGO, IL 2022
Northwestern Univeristy
ASSOCIATED ENSEMBLES
Mela Ensemble
Side Alley Groove Machine Chicago, IL
Deja Vibes Austin, TX
Soulfire and the Eternal Flame Austin, TX
Trust This Ghost Chicago, IL
Ponder Buffalo, NY
All'amore Jamestown, NY
The Everythingness Buffalo, NY
Bobby Skrzypek and the Pedestrians Western, NY
PERFORMED AT
810 Meadworks Medina, NY
Alcove Cantina Round Rock, TX
Angels Icehouse Spicewood, TX
Barrow Brewing Salado, TX
Bucktown Garden Festival (2019) Chicago, IL
Caffeine Underground NYC
Daily Planet Cafe Buffalo, NY
Davenport's Piano Bar Chicago, IL
Erie Maritime Museum Erie, PA
Funk and Waffles Syracuse, NY
Gallery Cabaret Chicago, IL
Hotel ZaZa Austin, TX
Infringement Festival (2017) Buffalo, NY
Kalahari Resort Round Rock, TX
La Macchina Evanston, IL
Livewire Lounge Chicago, IL
Lot 10 Ithica, NY
Maggie Mae's Leander, TX
Merge Buffalo, NY
Mohawk Place Buffalo, NY
Mojo's Jamestown, NY
Montrose Saloon Chicago, IL
Navy Pier Chicago, IL
Nietzche's Buffalo, NY
NeWorlDeli Austin, TX
Parish Public House Albany, NY
Pausa Art House Buffalo, NY
Petterino's Chicago, IL
Piano's NYC
Pflutto's Tavern Pflugerville, TX
Radio Bean Burlington, VT
Slyfest (2017) Western New York
South Fork Food and Brew Georgetown, TX
Starry Night Cafe Rochester, NY
Stone Church Newmarket, NH
Sylvie's Chicago, IL
The 9th Ward Buffalo, NY
The Basement Long Island, NY
The Bug Jar Rochester, NY
The Cavern Toronto, ON
The Elbo Room Chicago, IL
The Gypsy Parlour Buffalo, NY
The Hide Out Long Island, NY
The Kimmel Center (Perelman)* Philadelphia, PA
The Second City* Chicago, IL
The Stumblin Inn Elba, NY
Thin Man Brewery Buffalo, NY
Uncommon Ground Chicago, IL
Wine on Hertal Buffalo, NY
WTF Austin, TX
*with The Second City
PERFORMED ON
"Major/Minor" by Chris Kremer 2022
"Sticky Gumbo" by Cyndi Stark 2021
"Before We Go..." by Trust This Ghost 2020
"Mela Two" 2019
"The Everythingness" 2017
"Mela" 2016
"Gin and Yonic" by Yonic 2015