Nova Scotia native cellist Denise Ro completed her studies at the University of Texas at Austin. An avid chamber musician, engagements have included performances at the Aspen Music Festival, the Perlman Music Program, and Kneisel Hall. As cellist of the former Ariadne String Quartet, she was awarded the Barstow String Prize at the 2012 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, Bronze Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and First Prize at the Ohio String Teachers’ Association Biennial Chamber Music Competition.
In conjunction with the Juilliard School and the Gluck Community Service Fellowship, Dr. Ro has taken part in a series of educational outreach concerts within the New York Metropolitan area. Through the Juilliard School’s chamber music program, she was a member of the Kodecari String Quartet, who were semi-finalists in the Plowman Chamber Music Competition and the J. C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition. As an alumni of the Perlman Music Program and in conjunction with Chamber Music America, she performed as part of a tri-city tour to Princeton University (Princeton), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City), and the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.).
Dr. Ro completed doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she was mentored by cellist, Joshua Gindele of the Miró Quartet. Previous studies have included string quartet residencies at Rice University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the Juilliard School, where she completed her graduate studies in 2011. Over the years, her chamber music mentors have included Joshua Gindele, Timothy Eddy, Merry Peckham, Annie Fullard, Roger Tapping, Paul Katz, and Donald Weilerstein.
Dr. Ro is currently residing in Austin, Texas, where she holds a private cello studio, and is furthering her chamber music aspirations as a faculty member of the Austin Chamber Music Center. In her spare time, she loves cooking ethnic food, reading Beethoven string quartets, playing with puppies, and watching old classic movies.