Sumi Jo has won first prizes in numerous prestigious awards such as the Napoli Zonta International Competition, Viotti International Music Competition, Francisco Viñas International Singing Competition, Pretoria International Music Competitions, and Carlo Alberto Capelli International Competition. Her debut in an international stage was made by performing Gilda in <Rigoletto> by Giuseppe Verdie at the Teatro Communale in Trieste in 1986.

In 1988, Jo came across a significant turning point in her opera career when she met Herbert von Karajan, leading her to the world's top stages. The legendary conductor praised Jo for her “voice from above” and “voice that comes only once a century” and asked her to audition for him. After the sudden death of Karajan, Jo performed as Oscar in Guiseppe Verdi’s <A Masked Ball> conducted by Sir Georg Solti KBE. Furthermore, Jo's recording for the documentary <Karajan in Salzburg> brought her great success. Later, as a coloratura soprano, Jo appeared in title roles of operas performed in world-class opera houses, including the Teatro alla Scala in Italy, the Covent Garden in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Opéra Bastille in France.

With her devotion to musical activities, Jo was honored with the prestigious La Siola d'Oro given to the best soprano of the year in Italy in 1993 and designated as the Artist for Peace by UNESCO for her contributions to world peace through music in 2007. In 2008, she received the prestigious Puccini Award in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Giacomo Puccini. In August of the same year, Jo sang at the Beijing Olympics with Renée Fleming and Angela Gheorghiu as the “top three sopranos in the world.”

In 2016, marking the 30th anniversary of her debut in international opera, <Simple Song #3> sung by Jo and featured in Paolo Sorrentino's film <Youth> won the Best Original Song at the David di Donatello Awards and was nominated for an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award in the Best Song category. In 2017, Jo was appointed as an honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics and made a world tour performance promoting the PyeongChang Olympics. In March 2018, she sang <Here as One> during the opening ceremony of the Paralympics and was later awarded at the first BraVo International Professional Classical Music Awards held in Russia. In 2019, Jo received the Ordine della Stella Italiana and was granted the Cavaliere title by the Italian government. Furthermore, she became the first Korean inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame in 2021. Later, Jo was appointed as the visiting distinguished professor at KAIST's Graduate School of Culture Technology and began teaching in 2022. In 2023, an international classical singing competition named after her will be launched in France. Jo teaches in master classes in Mozarteum University Salzburg and Harvard University in the United States.

She has notable recordings created with Herbert von Karajan, Sir Georg Solti KBE, and Zubin Mehta. <The Woman without a Shadow> by Richard Strauss recorded with Solti in 1993 was selected as the Best Opera that had Jo nominated for a Grammy Award. Crossover album <Only Love> released in 2000 became a million-seller. 2002 FIFA World Cup theme song <Champions> was loved by soccer fans across the world. Through the contract signed with Universal Music Group in 2007, <Missing You> was released with the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label for five years, achieving five-times platinum sales. In March 2010, <Ich Liebe Dich> was released for the second time with Universal Music Group. <Libera> that plays the lives of gypsies and <La Luce> that recorded the works of Igor Krutoy of Russia were released in 2011 and 2012, respectively. She also released her first pop album <Krida> in 2015, expanding her musical spectrum. In 2021, celebrating the 35th anniversary of her debut, she launched <Lux. 3570> recorded with the Italian chamber orchestra I Musici and went on a tour celebrating the album release.

The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra have been taking a significant position in the musical world for a long time.
The 12 cellists were formed in 1972, when they gathered to record Julius Klengel's <Hymnus for 12 Cellos> with the members of the Berlin Philharmonic. Their special sounds and exceptional ensemble drew the attention of the public and have been acclaimed by the world.
Classic, jazz, tango, avant-garde, and any other musical genre played by the 12 cellists easily put the audience in awe. Their sincerity and sense of humor are other factors that appeal to the audience of different generations and genders. Boris Blacher, Sebastian Currier, Brett Dean, Tan Dun, Péter Eötvös, Jean Françaix, Sofia Gubaidulina, Christian Jost, Wilhelm Kaiser-Lindemann, Arvo Pärt, Wolfgang Rihm, Kaija Saariaho, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Pēteris Vasks, Iannis Xenakis, and Udo Zimmermann are the composers who have written pieces dedicated to The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

The 12 cellists were given Germany’s major classical music award, Echo Klassik, in 2001, 2005, and 2017.