bio

The music of Ethan Hsu (b. 2008), described as having "palpable energy" and "adept orchestration" (Pittsburgh Symphony), seeks to input a wide variety of influences ranging from films and video games to nature and sociocultural issues through his distinctive energetic drive.

Ethan is a 2026 YoungArts Award Winner with Distinction, and is the winner of the 25/26 PSO Pennsylvania Schooltime Call for Scores. He is a Juilliard Pre-College student, studying composition under the tutelage of Dr. Manuel Sosa. His piece, "Pandemonium," was performed at the Koussevitzky Music Shed at Tanglewood-on-Parade, and his piece "Resonance" was read and recorded by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra. He is currently working on a string quartet for the Dolphins Quartet as part of their 2026 Young Composers' Program, and is an alumnus of the NowBeat Project, the American Composers Orchestra Summer Composition Intensive, Penn State Young Composers' Intensive, and Jacobs Composition Academy.

Ethan's music has been performed by the Budapest Scoring Orchestra, BUTI Young Artists Orchestra, Philadelphia Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, musicians of The Juilliard School, Indiana University Bloomington and Penn State, musicians of Ensemble Connect, musicians of the American Composers Orchestra, bassoonist Marc Goldberg, and pianist Thomas Weaver. More recently, a string orchestra addition to Allan E. Naplan's choral work "Al Shlosha D'Varim" was premiered at Carnegie Hall by the Harriton High School Choir and Chamber Orchestra. He has been recognized by the National Association for Music Educators and the Pennsylvania Music Educators' Association, The American Prize, National Young Composers Challenge, Hayes School of Music, Jacobs Composition Academy Commission, The Vibraphone Project, Vox Novus, and the Universal Maestro Society.

As a cellist, he has performed with PMEA Districts and Regions orchestras, and served as assistant principal of the Philadelphia Sinfonia and Philadelphia Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra. Currently he serves as principal of his high school symphony and chamber orchestras. He has performed in venues such as The Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall.

Currently, Ethan studies composition with Manuel Sosa and Chris Rogerson, and cello with Rachel Henderson Freivogel. He has had masterclasses with esteemed composers such as Nico Muhly, David Serkin Ludwig, Amy Beth Kirsten, Jonathan Bailey Holland, Vivian Fung, Viet Cuong, and Alyssa Weinberg. Furthermore, he has attended lectures and presentations with composers including Michael Abels, Matthew Aucoin, Carlos Simon, Don Freund, John Corigliano, Reena Esmail, Eric Whitacre, Wynton Marsalis, Patrice Rushen, and Tania León. He began studying composition when he was eleven and cello when he was seven. He formerly studied piano with Natalie Zhu, cello with Yumi Kendall, and composition with Emily Cooley.

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Ethan lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA.