THE POET’S CELLIST
Cellist collaborating with poets in live performance
WHAT I DO
- Live poetry collaborations
- Literary readings + performances
- Improvised or composed cello accompaniment
- Amplified acoustic cello (traditional with pickup)
For the past 17 years, I’ve played the cello to listen, respond, and speak alongside poetry, creating performances where music is part of the text itself.
Each performance is shaped in conversation with the poems — never background, always in dialogue.
SELECTED EXPERIENCE
- Zong! performance with NourbeSe Philip (2014)
- Ongoing collaborations with poets and literary communities
- Founder + co-host, Tabi Po Poetry
BACKGROUND
- Cellist (35+ years)
Classically trained with extensive orchestral and ensemble experience. - Interdisciplinary Collaboration (17+ years)
Work as a cellist in collaboration with poets, folk/Americana, and interdisciplinary performance artists. - Cello + Poetry Performance (ongoing)
Live performance integrating cello with spoken word and poetic forms. - Poetry Practice (MFA in Poetry)
Ongoing literary work spanning publication, performance, and collaboration. Recipient of the 2017 Best Book Award in Poetry (Association for Asian American Studies).
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Groove Cello Academy (2026 – Present)
An intensive program focused on improvisation, groove-based playing, ear training, arranging, and contemporary cello performance. - Private Study with Janet Schiff (2025 – Present)
Ongoing cello study with Janet Schiff, cellist and co-founder of Nineteen Thirteen.
LET’S COLLABORATE
If you’re a poet, curator, or organizer looking to bring live music into a reading or performance, I welcome collaborations.
