Available to perform as a soloist or part of an ensemble!
new number! (657) 366-1232
Nancy Kuo | Violin/Viola/Cello | Music Event Contracting | Instruction
new number! (657) 366-1232
about nancy
Nancy has collaborated and worked for an extraordinary list of talented artists in the hip hop, punk, rock, and pop musical spaces including...
Janelle Monáe
Megan Thee Stallion
H.E.R.
Linda Perry
Courtney Love Cobain (Hole)
Fall Out Boy
Brent Faiyaz
James Williamson (Iggy and the Stooges)
Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys)
Robbie Williams
Marisela
Alison Mosshart
Evan Rachel Wood
Pardison Fontaine
HelloGoodbye
Kishi Bashi
That Dog
Ceci Bastida
The Dears
Nancy is an in-demand classically trained and improvising violinist, violist, and cellist originally from the Wild West. With over 30 years of professional performing experience, she is a graduate from Berklee College of Music is an active Los Angeles-based session musician, live performing artist, and sought after teacher. Nancy has toured the country with off Broadway musical 'Titanic' the San Francisco gypsy jazz group, 'The George Cole Quintet' as well as LA-based ‘Vaud And The Villains’ and has collaborated with a myriad of talented artists for session work and live performances which include legends listed below. Her complete list of live performances and recording experiences are listed on the Events page spanning from 2011-2023.
Whether performing a casual electric violin set for
Megan Thee Stallion’s Valentine’s Day surprise gifted by her beau Pardison Fontaine, playing live cello with Courtney Love Cobain for Lipps modeling agency launch at the Dream Hotel in Hollywood, multi tracking with string ensembles for Janelle Monet's commercial projects, living the Johnny Cash life performing violin with gypsy jazz group The George Cole Quintet for the inmates at the Iona Correctional Facility, moonlighting with chamber groups and indie bands......or nowadays playing socially distanced micro concerts with her car.......Nancy has pretty much done it all through her 30+ year professional performing career.
Well versed in a multitude of genres, Nancy performs with jazz, pop, indie rock and world-fusion groups, is seen performing violin on celebrity wedding specials for the TLC network and plays regularly for film, sound tracks, musical theater and bands in Los Angeles. She is a member of American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, the American String Teacher's Association, and is a proud violin artist endorsee of L.R. Baggs DI and pickups, and cello artist endorsee of Shadow Electronics.
Notable television and film work includes recording violin and viola for music on a promo with the CMG orchestra for the 2019 Super Bowl, the newest Sims videogame (2017), and violin, viola, and cello for Netflick's Original Series "Chef's Table" (2014), recording violin for CW Network's 'Hart of Dixie' (2012), performing with Robbie Williams in “Go Gently” (2013), recording violin for the feature film, Planet World, and composing/performing original incidental music for the film debuting at Slamdance, “Holiday Road” (2011).
Notable venues in Los Angeles, she’s played include Downtown Disney Live, Peacock Theater (formerly Nokia Theatre and Microsoft Theater), Dolby Theater, the Skirball Cultural Center, Hollywood Forever Masonic Lodge, the Wilshire Ebell Theater, Noor, the Echoplex, Bootleg Theater, Dream Hotel, the Luxe Hotel, the Satellite, The Mint, The Rose, and SLS Hotel Beverly Hills. She has recorded at Sony Pictures Scoring Stage, Eastwest Studios, Warner Brothers Eastwood Scoring Stage, The Evergreen Stage, and Tangent Recording Studios among many many other established studios.
She has lent her talents to commercial work and has worked on commercials that include Facebook, LA Music Center, Service Connect, and nationally syndicated commercials for Fruit of the Loom, Hewlett Packard, WEtv, and BainUltra. She has also been a on-set coach as a string quartet consultant for Yamaha Corporation Japan and violin consultant for a Hartmann Luggage commercial.
Nancy has a passion for music education. She is the head instructor and owner of Leggy Fish Music Lessons offering customized and quality in-home private and group lessons.
In addition to playing violin, viola, and cello, Nancy also dabbles in piano, sitar, mandolin and uke.
collaborations with...
- Courtney Love Cobain-played cello in live performance
- Linda Perry (Four Non Blondes)-played violin in live performance
- H.E.R.-played viola in recording for 2019 Grammy’s
- Marisela-played viola with string quartet and band supporting legendary Mexican artist, Marisela
- Janelle Monáe-played violin and viola in projects including recording of "All or Nothing at All" for Ralph Lauren and other commercial projects.
- James Williamson (Iggy and the Stooges)-played cello in television taping and in live performance
- Jello Biafra (The Dead Kennedeys)-played cello in live performance
- Alison Mosshart (The Kills)-played violin in live performance
- Fall Out Boy-played violin in production used for 2020 tour
- Roger Rocha (Four Non Blondes)-played violin in live performances
- That Dog-played violin in live performance
- Ceci Bastida-played violin and cello on album
- Hellogoodbye-played violin, viola and cello on album
- Guster-played violin in live performance
- The Dears (Murray Lightburn)-played violin in live performance
- Janelle Monáe-played violin and viola in projects including recording of "All or Nothing at All" for Ralph Lauren and other commercial projects
- Streetlight Manifesto=played viola in live performance with CMG Orchestra.
- Geographer-played viola for song to be released in 2021.
- Islands (also with Richard Reed Parry from Arcade Fire)-played violin in live performance
- ...and many other artists.
performances for...
- Performed for artist Janelle Monáe for her Wondaland Halloween event in October 2022 and October 2023 (also contracted live musicians).
- Performed for artist Janelle Monáe in a 12 piece string ensemble for her Los Angeles summer soiree in June 2021 (also contracted live musicians).
- Performed for artists Megan the Stallion and Pardison Fontaine on February 14, 2021.
- Performed at Niecy Nash's 2011 Wedding Bash
- And many many others!
contracting for...
- Contracted strings for Brent Faiyaz's 2023 North America and European tour.
- Contracted string quintet for Janelle Monáe's Wondaland Halloween event in October 2022 and October 2023.
- Contracted horn section for Janelle Monáe's Martell cognac commercial (music) in September 2021.
- Contracted horn section for Janelle Monáe's Grammy-nominated album, Age of Pleasure in March 2022.
- Contracted 12 piece string ensemble for Janelle Monáe's summer soiree in Los Angeles in June 2021.
- Contracted solo saxophonist for Janice Monáe's 2023 birthday event.
commercial work...
- Principal Mandolin player for national commercial Facebook's "What's On Your Mind" 2016. Over 14 million views as of April 4, 2016!
- Principal Woman 2 for national commercial for WEtv's "Pure Michigan" 2014
- Principal Violinist for rebranding commercial for Los Angeles Music Center 2014
- Principal Violinist for national BainUltra commercial 2014
- Background Violinist for national commercial for Volkswagon/Discovery Channel 2015
- Background for national commercial for Wealthfront 2015
- Background Violinist for national commercial for Hewlett Packard's Sprout 2014
- Background Violinist for national commercial for Fruit of the Loom 2014
- Theater
- Fiona in stage production of Zombie Rules; a production of Tre Stage Theater 2014
Modeling
- Modeled jewelry from Sparklehippie
Appearances, Film, Television Sessions and Film (Music)
- Violinist for syndicated show, Reptile Royalty Season 2 on Roku; appearing fall 2024!
- Violinist for Service Connect commercial 2024
- Violinist with CMG Orchestra and Magic Johnson for Super Bowl 2019 promo
- Principal Violinist for artist NORO's music video "Father and Daughter" 2017
- Violinist and Violist for Silas Hite's original music for the Sims videogame 2017
- Violist on television show, "Married X 30" 2016
- Violinist on Last Call with Carson Daly performing cello with Jello Biafra from the Dead Kennedys and James Williamson from Iggy and the Stooges 2015
- Violist on Robbie Williams "Go Gently" music video 2013
- Violinist on Michael Stepanian “Dance of Love” music video 2013
- Violinist on "Renaissance Men" with Iman Shumpert from the New York Nicks 2013
- Violinist on CW Network's 'Hart of Dixie' season 2 episode 9, entitled “Sparks Fly” (soundtrack) Dec 2012
- Violinist, Violist and Cellist for Silas Hite's original music for Netflick's Show "Chef's Table" 2014
- Knock and Rock 2012 "Violinist"
- Violinist on"Threshold"-short film by Vincent Labriola 2009
- Violinist on Planet World Soundtrack scored by Zachary Ross 2011
- Violinist for Niecy Nash's Wedding Bash (Wedding and Cocktail Event) 2011
- Violinist on Battle of TLC's the Wedding Planners Season #1 Episode 1 2010
- Violinist on Battle of TLC's Wedding Designers Season #1 Episode 1 2010
- Violinist on "Threshold"-short film by Vincent Labriola 2009 2011
- Violinist on Planet World Soundtrack scored by Zachary Ross 2011
- Violinist for Niecy Nash's Wedding Bash (Wedding and Cocktail Event) 2011 (click here to view)
(Non Music)
- Best Night Ever 2013 MYX TV "Shelly"-One of the main roles (learned a Salsa dance routine and acted)
- Ground Game 2012 "Townsperson" in scene with Randall Park
On Set Talent Consultant
- String quartet consultant for Yamaha Corporation Japan. Commercial shot in Elysian Park, CA on 9/20/15
- Violin consultant for Hartmann Luggage commercial and worked for production company, 37thdegree.com. Commercial shot in Beverly Hills, CA on 5/5/15
About
EXPERIENCE PERFORMING WITH ICONIC ROCKERS.
Played violin, viola and cello with many legendary artists spanning genres of pop, rock, Latin, and R&B.
in this video, I played cello with Courtney Love Cobain and Jennie Vee for the Lipps Modeling Agency Launch at the Dream Hollywood Hotel.
EXPERIENCE WITH MUSIC CONTRACTING.
Creator of StringVolution; a professional string player collective based in Los Angeles. Nancy has organized and performed at several hosted by artist Janelle Monáe contracting a 12 piece string section for her summer soire, a quintet for her 2022 Halloween event, a quartet for her 2023 event, and a solo saxophonist for her mother's 2023 birthday celebration. She was also string contractor for artist Brent Faiyaz and booked two string players for his North American and European tour in 2023.
She also contracted a horn section for Janelle Monáe's 2023 album Age of Pleasure. The horn section recorded on "Champagne Shit" and "Black Sugar Beach". This album is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album and will be recognized at the Grammy's in 2024.
EXPERIENCE PERFORMING WITH R&B'S GREATEST TALENTS.
Recorded viola and for H.E.R.'s Grammy performance and was in the "Road to the Grammys" documentary series.
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