The Cello Stories: For Cello Virtuoso Tina Guo, Her Journey to Greatness Began by Building Her Own Path

Tina Guo

Few musicians move as freely between worlds as Tina Guo. One moment she is bowing a soul-stirring classical passage from a Vivaldi score, and the next she is tearing through an Iron Maiden riff with her electric-cello. Her signature blend of technical precision, cinematic flair, and rockstar charisma has made her one of the most recognizable cellists of her generation that brought her to work with the best of the best, including Hans Zimmer and Ramin Djawadi.

For Tina, however, this remarkable journey did not begin with comfort and ease. Instead, it started by breaking a lot of rules and taking bold steps on a path of her own making, which makes her a trailblazer in the truest sense of the word. 

Tina’s new album The Cello Stories with composer Samuel Safa, and released by Kaptain Music, is a beautiful reminder of how this generational talent started her story with sheer mastery of her instrument in its purest form with every note, every phrase, and every run played with emotions that flow deep from a well overflowing with human experience. A lot of people can play the cello, but only the greats, like Tina, can tell stories with it. 

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Watch our exclusive interview with Tina Guo 

Born in Shanghai and raised in San Diego, Tina began studying piano at age three and cello at age seven. Her early training was rooted in the classical tradition, with a focus on competition, technique, and performance discipline. She later attended the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where she expanded her interests beyond the boundaries of classical repertoire. 

That curiosity eventually became her trademark. Tina started experimenting with electric cello, improvisation, and genre-bending collaborations. By the late 2000s she had carved out a hybrid career, performing with major symphonies one night and sharing a stage with rock and pop icons the next. 

Today, her résumé includes solo albums, blockbuster soundtracks, arena tours, and countless collaborations with film composers. She is also a performer known for her striking visual aesthetic: bold, modern, and infused with theatricality. 

The Soundtrack Powerhouse 

Tina’s work in film and television is one of the cornerstones of her career. She has become a go-to cellist for high-energy, emotionally charged scores. 

Some of her standout soundtrack contributions include: 

Wonder Woman (2017) 

Her gritty electric-cello performance of the now-iconic Wonder Woman theme, originally debuted in Batman v Superman, became instantly recognizable. The theme’s driving rhythm and fierce tone helped define the character’s cinematic identity. 

Dune 

Tina contributed to Hans Zimmer’s sonic world-building, adding textures that matched the film’s sweeping, otherworldly atmosphere. 

The Lion King, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, and Pirates of the Caribbean 

Across these and many more titles, her playing helped shape some of the most memorable moments in modern film music. 

She also appears frequently in video-game scores. Journey, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, and several titles in the Final Fantasy universe feature her unmistakable tone. 

Solo Work and Artistic Identity 

Outside of soundtrack sessions, Tina has built an impressive catalog as a solo artist. Her albums cover a broad range, from classical crossover to electronica to metal, and often highlight her electric-cello work. 

Listen to her new album, The Cello Stories, now available for licensing through APM Music. 

Watch the official music video of Tina's track: "Momentum Rising."

Find out more about the making of the album in the interview with the composer Samuel Safa and Kaptain Music's Valerie Allon.