MACC Presents: Ian Maksin’s ‘Songs of Love & Peace’ Jan. 7

December 7, 2025

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 | 7 p.m. | Music & Arts Community Center

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m., the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC) presents Songs of Love & Peace – a multilingual musical odyssey by acclaimed cellist, composer and vocalist Ian Maksin.

Blending ancient traditions with contemporary expression, Maksin invites audiences into an immersive soundscape that transcends borders – a meditation on peace, healing and human connection expressed through the universal language of song.

At the heart of the performance is Maksin’s soulful one-man cello orchestra, in which he transforms the cello into a full ensemble using loop pedal technology and subtle electronics. Layered with his expressive voice, the music weaves together traditional songs from across space and time, including Japan, Finland, Bosnia, Iran, Ukraine, Armenia, India, Kyrgyzstan and Medieval France and Spain.

Songs of Love & Peace reflects the path of a true musical globetrotter. Shaped by years of international touring, collaboration with local musicians and personal practices such as meditation, mountaineering, and flying, the album is a sonic offering inspired by Maksin’s search for the mystical thread that connects all cultures.

In addition to music from his latest release, the program features selections from Maksin’s earlier works, including The Alchemist and Amor Renatus, as well as highlights from a vast repertoire of more than 300 songs performed in 43 languages.

Transcending both musical and geographical boundaries, Ian Maksin has developed a singular artistic voice by blending classical mastery with elements of world music, jazz and contemporary genres. His performances are distinguished by an extraordinary linguistic range, and by compositions infused with influences from regions such as the Middle East, the Balkans, West Africa and Mongolia, as well as Andalusian flamenco.

Born in the former USSR into a multinational family, Maksin was immersed in many diverse cultures from an early age, and he began studying music at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad before relocating to the United States at age 16 to continue his education at the Manhattan School of Music. After a successful career in the classical world, including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami, Maksin chose to forge his own musical path, one that reimagines the cello as a global, unifying voice.

“As I grew as an artist, I realized that music is far more than entertainment,” said Maksin. “It is one of the most powerful forces we have – capable of healing, inspiring and bringing people together. I believe the cello can help save the world.”

To purchase tickets for Ian Maksin’s Songs of Love & Peace, call (239) 277-1700 or visit MACCtickets.org. The Music & Arts Community Center is located off Daniels Parkway at 13411 Shire Lane, on the campus of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers.