Nora Barton is a cellist, recording artist, event producer and educator based in northern Kentucky. She recently returned to the state from Chicago, where she performed in symphonies, rock bands, avante-garde ensembles, theater productions, and more, for 15 years. She is a founding member of the contemporary music collective a.pe.ri.od.ic ensemble and experimental improvisational piano trio NbN, as well as cellist in punk marching band Mucca Pazza, mbira-based space jam trio ExtraOcular, and chamber rock orchestra Origin of Animal. Outside of performing and recording, Nora organized concerts for the Chicago chapter of Classical Revolution, providing access to chamber music performances in a variety of unexpected public spaces. She also assembled string ensembles for Bluewater Kings Band, one of Chicago’s busiest wedding bands. She tours regularly with shadow puppet theatre company Manual Cinema.

Upon her return to the Cincinnati region in 2021 she continued to cultivate creative collaborative opportunities to further explore the benefits of listening to cello. Nora regularly accompanies yoga classes, hosts ambient noise jams and performs regularly as Planchette, an experimental solo project that enriches spaces with ethereal cello energy. She also enjoys teaching cello and piano to beginners of all ages. 

Nora holds a bachelor's degree in cello performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a master’s degree from Roosevelt University.