Since its formation in 1988 at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, The Guild Trio has attracted international attention. The trio is composed of Patricia Tao (piano), Janet Orenstein (violin), and Brooks Whitehouse (cello). Just three months after they founded the trio, they won the USIA Artistic Ambassador Competition, which resulted in a highly successful seven-country tour of Europe in 1989.

In 1990 the Tanglewood Music Center awarded The Guild Trio the position of trio-in-residence. In 1991, the trio won the Annual Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition and was one of four groups awarded matching grants from Chamber Music America for their residency at SUNY.

Of their performances, the Ottawa Citizen has written, "Playing of this order is too rare these days." Newsday has called The Guild Trio "a world class ensemble."