Cellist | Composer | Storyteller

“Cellist Joshua McClain composes songs that make listeners feel like they’re in another world.”

— Jenee Darden, KALW Public Radio

Joshua McClain is a renowned cellist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist known for his unbridled, cinematic approach to music. Based in Portland, Oregon, he blends classical elegance with raw, emotional depth—creating immersive soundscapes that transport listeners beyond the ordinary. Using looping pedals and effects processors, he layers intricate melodies and textures to craft sweeping, otherworldly compositions that would feel at home in a major motion picture soundtrack.

A visionary in modern cello performance, Joshua’s work is deeply rooted in the power of storytelling, exploring themes of transformation, resilience, and human connection. His album, Coming Home—nominated for an Independent Music Award—was inspired by the archetypal Hero’s Journey and a profound healing experience in the Peruvian Amazon. His compositions are not just music; they are emotional odysseys, guiding listeners through catharsis and self-discovery.

Joshua’s work has earned widespread recognition, including Musician of the Year in San Francisco (RAW Awards, 2013) and the Best Original Score Award (San Diego Movie Awards, 2024) for the feature-length documentary An Open Door, about Temple Grandin. He has toured and performed extensively across North America, Germany, France, Japan, West Africa, and Argentina, sharing the stage with artists like Thievery Corporation, AJ Croce, Over the Rhine, Todd Boston, Blame Sally, Gordi, and Dagmar.

During the pandemic of 2020, Joshua launched Morning Cello, a live-stream concert series that reached millions worldwide, offering solace through music during a time of global uncertainty. In 2025, he released the highly anticipated and widely celebrated Morning Cello album—a powerful collection that captures the intimacy, emotional resonance, and quiet transcendence that fans around the world have come to cherish. Described by listeners as “soul-healing,” “deeply moving,” and “a soundtrack for our shared humanity,” the album affirms Joshua’s place as a standout figure in contemporary instrumental music. His ability to fuse the emotional depth of classical music with the expansive, dynamic energy of post-rock, ambient, and cinematic scoring continues to inspire and connect across generations.

“While I watched McClain play in the studio, waves of sound—warm and reassuring—washed over me; their undertow pulled me closer, figuratively, to the instrument, and drew me into the heaving sighs of the music.”

— Derk Richardson, KPFA Radio

Joshua’s influences span a wide spectrum, blending modern classical, cinematic minimalism, and raw emotional soundscapes. His work draws inspiration from artists like Ludovico Einaudi, Philip, Glass, Peter Gregson, Ólafur Arnalds, and Redi Hasa, alongside long-standing inspirations such as Andrew Bird, Zoe Keating, Yo-Yo Ma, Sigur Rós, Dirty Three, Jimi Hendrix, Max Richter, Yann Tiersen, and Hans Zimmer. His ability to channel these diverse inspirations into deeply personal and evocative compositions has solidified his reputation as a bold innovator in modern classical and cinematic music.

Beyond his solo work, Joshua has collaborated extensively, including the 2016 full-length album Is Fortune a Wheel with six-time Emmy-winning songwriter Monica Pasqual, and a follow-up appearance on her 2019 release You Can’t Kill Light.

McClain’s music is a journey—one that transcends genre, geography, and expectation. Whether in a concert hall, a film score, or a live-stream performance, his compositions create an experience that lingers long after the final note.