Mia Pixley, Ph.D., is a mother, clinical psychologist, and multidisciplinary artist who integrates cello, voice, and performance to explore aspects of our inner worlds. Like her psychotherapy practice, Mia’s artistic work is guided by curiosity, honesty, humility, and humor. Her music—often described as whimsical, irreverent, melodic and unconventional — is a grounding, soulful, and ethereal blend of classical, experimental, blues, folk, and jazz genres. Music that may make you dance - but only a little bit. More of a fulfilling wiggle, probably.

Mia earned a Professional Studies Diploma in Cello Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (Class of 2018). Her classical cello mentors include Joel Becktell, Wendy Sutter (formerly of Bang on a Can), and Jennifer Culp (formerly of the Kronos Quartet). She also studied with Mark Summer (formerly of the Turtle Island Quartet) to master extended cello techniques and composition. Mia discovered her vocal resonance under the guidance of celebrated NYC singer Ayana Lowe.

Mia has opened for artists such as Fantastic Negrito, Valerie June, Hauschka, and Holly Near. She performs and records regularly with GRAMMY-nominated multi-instrumentalist Barbara Higbie and Fantastic Negrito. Mia loves collaboration and interdisciplinary endeavors of all kinds.

Based in the California Bay Area, Mia is rooted to the importance of community and our interconnectedness with the natural world. Her debut full-length album, Margaret in the Wild, was released in July 2021, followed by Passage, a poetry and music collaboration, in April 2022. In September 2023, Mia unveiled her first immersive generative art and music collection, Coral Enneagrams: Sound of the Reef, created in partnership with generative artist Cameron Nelson and producer Akiyoshi Ehara, via the experiential art platform Wildxyz.

Mia is currently working on her second album, Love. Dark. Bloom.—a songwriting and instrumental project that explores the richness of darkness in a playful and comforting way.