Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
“Being a Taproot fellow gives me the accelarator to advance my platform that facilitates shared experiences across cultures, generations, and communities, where young and old / Vietnamese-American and non Vietnamese-American can come together to celebrate, heal, and draw strength in cultural roots.”
Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
Photo courtesy Harris Theatre Educational Department
Photo by Son Lu
Photo by Tung Nguyễn
Photo by Lê Tuấn, CABO Studio
Photo by Jason Lew
Photo by Matthew TW Huang
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A fearless musical explorer
A fearless musical explorer, Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ is an award-winning performer of the 16-string dan tranh (zither) and an Emmy Award-winning composer who has collaborated with Kronos Quartet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Yo-Yo-Ma, Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Minneapolis Orchestra Symphony.
In 1995, Vân-Ánh won the championship title in the Vietnamese National Đàn Tranh (Zither) Competition. Additionally, she has been co-composer and arranger for the Oscar® nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner for Best Documentary, Daughter from Danang (2002), the Emmy® Awards winning film and soundtrack for Bolinao 52 (2008), the winner of multiple “Best Documentary” and “Audience Favorite” awards, A Village Called Versailles (2009), and PBS documentary “Vietnam War” directed by Kent Burn.
She has presented her music at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023), Lincoln Center, NPR, Houston Grand Opera, Adelaide Festival, Holland Music Festival, UK WOMAD Festival, and London Olympic Games 2012 Music Festival. She has been invited and participated as a screening judge in the Global Music category for both the 2015, 2016 & 2018 Grammy® Awards. Under the Obama administration, Vân-Ánh became the first Vietnamese artist to perform at the White House and received the Artist Laureate Award for contributing to communities through the arts.
Vân-Ánh has received awards and support for her projects and compositions from foundations such as Hewlett 50 Commissions, Creative Work Fund, MAP Fund, Gerbode Foundation, Chamber Music America, New Music USA, City of San Jose, and more.
What does the Taproot Fellowship mean to you and how will it affect your practice?
I see my artistic practice as a bridge that unites the Vietnamese, SEA communities and beyond; and provides a platform for us to share, learn the differences, influence, and be influenced. Being a Taproot fellow gives me the accelarator to advance my platform that facilitates shared experiences across cultures, generations, and communities, where young and old / Vietnamese-American and non Vietnamese-American can come together to celebrate, heal, and draw strength in cultural roots. Through Taproot and traditional music, I strengthen my continued goals of seeking to establish trust and inspire resilience—helping others see that if one can overcome obstacles, so can we all.
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