Clíodhna Ní Aodáin is an Irish cellist, composer, conductor and educator based in Bern, Switzerland. Rooted in the traditions of Irish music and shaped by classical training in Dublin, Vienna, Manchester, Montréal and Zurich, she has developed a distinctive musical voice that blends lyrical cello playing, improvisation and storytelling.

As founder of The Celtic Cello, Clíodhna explores the meeting place of tradition, nature and contemporary expression. Drawing inspiration from the ornamentation of sean-nós singing, the rhythms of traditional Irish music and the practice of deep listening, she creates sound worlds that are both intimate and expansive. Her artistic path has been enriched by mentorship from Martin Hayes and the influence of visionary musicians including David Darling and Eugene Friesen.

Clíodhna’s latest release, For the Love of Trees, is a collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer Mickey Houlihan and grows from a lifelong connection with the natural world and her environmental initiative Cellos for Trees, through which more than 8,000 trees have been planted in Ireland. Inspired by musical conversations with trees in Ireland, Switzerland and the United States, the album invites listeners into a space of wonder, reflection and belonging, where sound becomes a bridge between people, place and nature.

Recorded in Boulder, Colorado on the cello of the late David Darling, the album weaves layered cello textures, voice, atmosphere and field recordings into a meditative sonic journey that invites listeners back into connection with nature, stillness and themselves.

"As one's imagination enters the trees a sense of safety and familiarity envelops you. The sound helps to define the contours of ancient inner tree architecture. The feeling is one of humility as you might experience in an old chapel, and sometimes grandeur like in a great cathedral. Cliodhna has created a tribute of great beauty, but also a kind of musical map toward grounding, love, and unity."