Tina Guo

A cellist of worldwide renown whose work spans classical performance, cinematic and video-game scoring, rock-infused crossover projects, and electronic textures, Tina Guo entered the world in Shanghai and has lived in the United States since turning five. Initial lessons came from her father, Lu-Yan Guo, after which she studied with cellists Eleonore Schoenfeld and Nathaniel Rosen at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. On the concert stage she has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras such as the State of Mexico National Symphony, the San Diego Symphony, Brazil’s Petrobras Symphony, and Greece’s Thessaloniki State Symphony. Additional partnerships have placed her alongside jazz guitarist Al Di Meola, the Smiths’ Johnny Marr, and the Foo Fighters.

Extensive soundtrack contributions have further broadened her profile, with performances featured on the scores for Iron Man 2, Sherlock Holmes, Batman vs. Superman, Inception, and X-Men: First Class, as well as United Airlines, Apple’s iPhone, and Mazda campaigns. Her dramatic approach and commitment to game and film music have cultivated a devoted following within gaming circles, evidenced by appearances at Comic Con and Blizzcon plus a sold-out League of Legends World Championship set at L.A.’s Staples Center that reached 33 million online viewers. From 2011 through 2013 she served as featured soloist for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson “The Immortal” World Tour.

Since issuing the new-age and classical crossover album Autumn Winds in 2014, Guo has released an array of solo projects ranging from purely classical recordings to the harder-edged Cello Metal in 2015 and the 2017 orchestral-and-rock-band collection Game On!, which reimagines video-game themes. She is likewise recognized for her work on electric cello and on the erhu, the traditional Chinese bowed string instrument.