Biography

Patrycja Likos performs solo and with various groups in the United States and internationally each season.  She has performed solo in cello master classes led by outstanding cellists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Giovanni Gnocchi, Jonathan Pegis, Anadrzej Bauer, Michael Flaksman, Jeroen Reuling, and Paul Uyterlinde.  As a chamber musician, she took part in chamber music master classes in the United States, France, Poland and Italy with Itamar Golan, Ivry Gitlis, Guarneri Quartet, Pacifica Quartet, Parker Quartet, Arianna Quartet, and Jupiter Quartet.  She received invitations to DoCha Chamber Music Festival and Allerton Music Festival, where she performed with faculty members of the University of Illinois.  Patrycja appears in events at cultural centers in Chicago, including Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago, Fullerton Hall in Art Institute of Chicago, Piano Forte Foundation, St. John Cantius Church, and Grace Lutheran Church.  From 2012 to 2014, Patrycja was a regular member of Civic Orchestra in Chicago, and had opportunities to play with extraordinary conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Michael Tilson Thomas, Nicholas McGegan, and Jaap van Zweden. She is currently an assistant principal cellist of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, as well as a member of Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Arts Orchestra, and Chicago Folk Operetta.

Patrycja began her cello studies at the age of eight at the Ignacy Jan Paderewski School of Music in Krosno, Poland, under the direction of Wojciech Pelczar.  She earned Bachelor and Master of Music degrees under Andrzej Orkisz from the Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz Academy of Music in Łódź.  Patrycja then went on to receive an Artist Diploma in cello performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the studio of Brandon Vamos. 

Patrycja has won many prizes in cello competitions in the United States and abroad. In 2011, Patrycja won the first prize in the Krannert Center Debut Artist Competition at Urbana-Champaign. She earned the third prize at the International Cello Competition in Kosice, Slovak Republic, and the first prize at the Chamber Music Competition in Stalowa Wola, Poland.  She participated in International Cello Competition in Liezen, Austria, and the K. Wilkomirski’s Youth Cello Competition in Poznan, Poland.  As an awarded graduate, Patrycja has performed with the Rzeszów Philharmonic in Poland. 

Patrycja has more than 10 years of experience in teaching. She currently serves as a cello instructor at the Lycée Français de Chicago, Northeastern University, and Solo Classic School in Buffalo Grove.  From 2013 to 2016 she was a co-founder and cello instructor of the Likos String Academy located in downtown Chicago. Patrycja’s private studio serves the northern suburbs of Chicago.