Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ & Blood Moon Orchestra
Emmy-winning composer and master of traditional Vietnamese instruments, Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of Vietnam War with a fall concert tour that touches down in Houston, Chicago, Boston, and Worcester, MA, with stops at the Viet Cultural Fest and the Chicago World Music Festival.
A fearless musical explorer born into a family of musicians in Vietnam, Vân-Ánh Võ is a master of the 16-string đàn tranh (zither) and an award-winning composer who has collaborated with Kronos Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and more. Known for her innovative approach to the đàn tranh and other traditional instruments — cluding the đàn bầu (monochord), đàn t’rung (bamboo xylophone), and trống (drum) — Võ creates striking musical dialogues that are both deeply rooted and forward-looking.
Vân-Ánh will be joined on this tour by her genre-defying collective Blood Moon Orchestra, featuring Sheldon Brown (Wind Instruments), Joel Davel, (Marimba Lumina, Percussion), and Jimi Nakagawa (Taiko Drums). Together, they deliver a compelling, world class performance that amplifies the stories, artistry, and creativity of the Vietnamese community. In Massachusetts the group will join Arneis String Quartetfor two performances, part of a 2-year residency between the quartet and Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, supported by the Boston University.
