Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ is an award-winning performer of the 16-string đàn tranh (zither) and an Emmy Award-winning composer who has collaborated with Kronos Quartet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Yo-Yo Ma. Coming from a family of musicians and  studying đàn tranh from the age of four, Van-Anh graduated with distinction from the Vietnamese Academy of Music, where she later taught. She has performed in more than fourteen countries and presented her music at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center (2012, 2014, 2016), Lincoln Center, NPR, Houston Grand Opera, Yerba Buena Performing Arts Center, UK WOMAD Festival, and London Olympic Games 2012 Music Festival. She co-composed and arranged the Oscar-nominated and Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner for Best Documentary, Daughter from Danang (2002), the Emmy® Award winning film and soundtrack for Bolinao 52 (2008), and “Best Documentary” and “Audience Favorite” winner, A Village Called Versailles (2009).

 

In 2021 Xenotone released the music from the documentary feature film THE PEOPLE vs. AGENT ORANGE, for which Vân-Ánh co-composed the score with Blake Leyh. For the score Vân-Ánh performs vocals, đàn tranh (zither),đàn bầu (monochord), đàn t'rưng (upright bamboo xylophone), and đàn môi (artillery shell jaw harp).