Born in 1987 Hanoi, Viet Nam into a musical family, Cao Thanh Lan is a versatile musician, composer encompassing a wide range of influences, ranging from classical to contemporary music, sound art and transdisciplinary art.
She’s the scholarship holder of Startstipendium for music and performing arts 2018 given by Austrian Federal Chancellery (BKA)
Education and Grants
2012-2014
Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln
Master of New Music in the class of Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Experimental Improvisation in the class of Paulo Alvares
Graduated Master of Music with Summa cum laude
2008 – 2012
Royal Conservatory of Brussels
Major in Classical Piano in the class of Boyan Vodenitcharov und Daniel Blumenthal
Contemporary Music and Improvisation Study with Dr. Bouckaert und Kris Defoort
Graduated Master of Music with Distinction
Graduated Bachelor of Music with Disctintion
The only receiver of merit-based scholarship from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.
Merit-based scholarships from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels for 2 consecutive years
Merit-based scholarships from the Vietnamese Government for 4 consecutive years
1996 – 2008
Major in Classical Piano at the Hanoi Conservatory
Baccalaureat in Classical Piano under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Tran Thu Ha and Nguyen Thi Lan
Annual merit-based scholarships from Hanoi Conservatory for 12 consecutive years
Stipendium vom Kumho Asiana Group for 1 year
Artistic Activities
9/2015 – now
Guest pianist/performer at Ensemble KNM (Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin) with performances at Ultraschall Festival, Festival Musica Electronica Nova, Poesiefestival Berlin, Galeriewanderung Berlin, RadialSystem V, etc.
2018
Duo Siedl/Cao ist selected for the renowned program New Austrian Sound of Music 2018-2019 (NASOM) from BMEIA in the category Contemporary Music
The music theater „The fifth cardinal direction“ ist selected to be presented at Operadagen Rotterdam on the 24. May 2018 and at Musiktheatertagen Vienna on the 16. June 2018
Publication of acousmatic composition “Meeting” on Uchronia – a 3 CD Compilation of experimental music from Asian, Middle East and the diaspora, on Syrphe Label
Duo Siedl/Cao receives grants for their tours in Indonesia, Vietnam, where they held workshops with Pertemuan Music at Goethe Institut, at Indonesian Institute of Arts, Six Space Hanoi, Museum of Empathy
2017
The music theater „The fifth cardinal direction“ is premiered at Hanoi National Opera House, Vietnam
Duo Siedl/Cao was supported by BKA and BMEIA for their tours in Finland, Australia, Vietnam, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay with the program Zicla – new music for prepared zither, clarinet and electronics
Release of album KLANKBEELDJE with compositions and co-compositions from duo Mono.Ext for extended snare drum and piano, on Impakt Label Köln
Commissioned by (re)Shaping Jazz to come, and performance of music theatre “Baggage” in duo with Liz Kosack in Ausland Berlin
2015 – 2017
Performances at Festivals:
- Ultraschall Festival
- Festival Musica Electronica Nova
- Emitter Micro Festival Berlin 2017
- Brechtfestival Augsburg 2016
- Poesiefestival Berlin
- FIME Festival for experimental music in Sao Paulo Brazil 2016
- STROM Festival Köln 2015
- Festival Frischzelle 2015
- Festival Ankunft Neue Musik Berlin 2015
- Festival Kölner Musik Nacht 2015
- International Kamermuziek Festival Schiermonnikoog
Co-founder/member of Projects/Bands:
- Duo Siedl/Cao: a composer-performer ensemble
- Osmosis Project
- Junk Orbit
- Mono Ext.
- Swiss Army Wife
- Cao Keller Siedl
Release on labels:
- Impakt
- Flaming Pines
- Acefalo Records
- Syrphe
- Off Record Label
2011 – 2017
Selected and participated at Festivals and Academies for Contemporary Music:
- Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik Darmstadt 2016, studied with Nicolas Hodges
- Impuls Festival Graz 2013, studied with with Ian Pace and Ensemble Klangforum Wien
- Festival Ircam Paris@Manifest 2012, studied with Sebastien Vichard from Ensemble Intercontemporain
- Klangspuren Festival im IEMA Ensemble 2011, studied with Ensemble Modern Frankfurt
Featured in radio/television broadcast:
- Acousmatic composition „Triptych No.3 – Wafitere“is selected and featured at Women in Sound Festival, Goldsmiths University, England
- Radio broadcast of composition „V – Construction“ on Sonic Darts Radio Show on Resonance FM, England
- Interview and live radio broadcast on Suara Surabaya, Indonesia
- Interviews and Television/Radio broadcasts on Vietnamese national stations such as VTV1, VTV3, VTV4, VOV3, etc.
Prizes at piano competitions:
- Gold Prize at the ASIA Intl. Piano Festival and Competition in South Korea
- Second Prize at the National Autumn Competition (Concours d’Automne)
- 3rd Prize at the International Carl Filtsch Competition in Romania 2012
- Special Prize at the International Piano Competition in Hanoi 2010
Teaching experiences
Duo Siedl/Cao has given workshops on contemporary music composition and improvisation at:
- Monash University Melbourne, Australia
- BoxHill Institute Melbourne, Australia
- National University of Hsinchu Taiwan
- Äänen Lumo Helsinki, Finland
- Universidad de La Serena, Chile
- Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay
- Meridian Space Beijing, China
- Pertemuan Musik Jakarta, at SAE Institute, Indonesia
- Pertemuan Musik Surabaya, at Goethe Institute Surabaya,
- Indonesia
- Indonesian Institute of The Art Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- DOMDOM Center for experimental music Hanoi. Vietnam
