top of page
PaulPioan001A002_PRINT.jpg

Paul Sottnik

COMPOSER

ACCOMPANIST

SONGWRITER

Untitled (1).png

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

bottom of page