Canadian/American cellist, Denise Ro, began her cello studies in her hometown of Bedford, Nova Scotia at the age of 7. Growing up playing piano trios with her pianist mother and violinist sister, Dorothy Ro, her passion for people and chamber music began at a young age. Currently residing in Austin, TX, she holds positions as applied faculty at Concordia University and cello faculty of the Young Artists Academy of the Austin Chamber Music Center. 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, Denise 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, as well as 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.).

Denise completed her doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin in 2017, where she was mentored by cellist, Joshua Gindele of the Miró Quartet. Previous education has included string quartet studies 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.

As an educator, Denise’s students have received top rankings in this year’s Texas Music Educators Association regional placements and the University Interscholastic League Solo and Ensemble regional contests through the University of Texas at Austin. An advocate for creating educational opportunities for her students, she looks to integrate her own artistic ventures with performances in local retirement homes and hospitals. Most recently, in conjunction with the Austin Chamber Music Center, her students performed for the closing session of the Southwestern Region of the American Music Therapy Association Conference in March of this year.

Denise currently holds a private cello studio in Austin, and is also currently working as a cello instructor in the Round Rock ISD school district. In her spare time, she loves cooking ethnic food, reading Beethoven string quartets, playing with puppies, and watching old classic movies.