Ilan MacAdam-Somer is a professional cellist, meditation instructor, and environmental scientist based in Santa Barbara, California. He founded Interwoven Path as a way to bring together these different areas of his life and help people slow down, reconnect with themselves, and cultivate a deeper relationship with one another and the natural world.
Ilan grew up in Houston, Texas, where he began studying classical cello at a young age. He was performing professionally with the Branard Street Strings Quartet by the age of 10 and has since played with orchestras and ensembles around the world.
After teaching in Cameroon in his early twenties, Ilan was inspired to pursue a career in environmental science after witnessing the effects of climate change and economic inequality on the community where he lived. He earned a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the UC Santa Barbara Bren School in 2017 and has spent the past eight years conducting life cycle assessments and carbon footprints for organizations seeking to understand and reduce their environmental impacts.
Over time, Ilan began questioning whether technical environmental analysis alone could create the depth of change he felt was needed. He became increasingly interested in the ways our economic system, patterns of consumption, and disconnection from ourselves and the natural world contribute to environmental and social harm.
Alongside this work, Ilan has maintained a meditation practice for nearly a decade and has led mindfulness workshops within his community. His approach is grounded in the belief that meaningful change begins not only with information, but also with greater awareness, emotional regulation, connection, and a renewed sense of personal agency.
Through Interwoven Path, Ilan now brings together guided mindfulness meditation and live acoustic cello to create experiences that support grounding, relaxation, reflection, and connection.