About
Thu Vo is a Vietnamese-born cellist whose artistry is defined by a deep connection to people and a versatile approach to performance. Her musical journey began at age 12 at the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory, and has since evolved into a vibrant international career spanning orchestral performance, chamber music, and administrative leadership.
Orchestral and Solo Excellence
Thu has performed with distinguished regional and international ensembles, including the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Orquesta Integrada de las Clínicas Instrumentales in Colombia, and the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera. Her development as a soloist has been shaped by masterclasses with some of the world’s most renowned cellists, including Lynn Harrell, Zlatomir Fung, and Santiago Cañón-Valencia.
Chamber Leadership
A dedicated chamber musician and educator, Thu serves as an FSU Fellowship musician with the Burgin Quartet and performs with the Carriola Quartet (sponsored by Sinfonia Gulf Coast). Her commitment to the global music community led her to serve as a Featured Artist and Faculty member at the Institución Universitaria Bellas Artes y Ciencias de Bolívar in 2024. Beyond the stage, she has held leadership roles as Executive Director of the University of Wyoming Cello Festival and Social Media Manager for the Carriola Quartet.
Academic Journey
Thu is currently a Doctor of Music candidate at Florida State University, holding previous Bachelor from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and Master the University of Wyoming. Her principal pedagogical influences include Greg Sauer, Mike Mermagen, Beth Vanderborgh, and Nga Tran.
Fluent in multiple languages and an ardent explorer of the culinary arts, fashion, and astrology, Thu approaches life and music with a polymathic spirit, seeking beauty in the nuanced connections between diverse disciplines.
Discography
Vo’s artistic interests span from Baroque to contemporary music. She explored historically informed performance through masterclasses at the Baroque Performance Institute in Ohio and performances with the FSU Baroque Ensemble, touring extensively with early music ensembles in 2024. More recently, she has put contemporary repertoire and recording projects as her main focus. These works often draw inspiration from the folk traditions and colors of each composer’s heritage.
Colombian Cello Duets
(2023)
An exploration of Latin American contemporary idioms in collaboration with composer Deiner Hurtado.
Dream Sequence (2025)
A duo album with violinist Masayoshi Arakawa, featuring the works of Kodály and Schulhoff, which interrogates the intersection of folk heritage and modern classicism.