full bio

The music of Ethan Hsu (b. 2008), described as having "palpable energy" and "adept orchestration" (Pittsburgh Symphony), maintains a deeply energetic and sharply witty style to the likes of Prokofiev while incorporating elements of the world around him, from video games and films to sociocultural issues and identity. 

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In 2026, Ethan will conduct his own work with his school's combined band and orchestra on the Waterside Stage at Disney Springs. His work will also be presented to 5,000 Pittsburgh-area students by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during the "Schooltime" concerts in three free performances. He is also an NYO-USA apprentice composer, for which he will write a work to be read by the orchestra during his residency at Purchase College and will present his work to the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra as a part of their European tour. Additionally, his music is scheduled to be performed by Juilliard Pre-College students at the Juilliard School and his high school's music programs.

Ethan is a 2026 YoungArts Award Winner with Distinction in Classical Music/Composition. 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 University, musicians of Ensemble Connect, the Nu Deco Ensemble, and the American Composers Orchestra, cellist Eunice Koh, and pianist Thomas Weaver. Ethan's work has been presented at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Rottenbieler Studio in Hungary, the Koussevitzky Music Shed, and The New World Center. 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.

Ethan's collaborative work includes an original soundtrack for a Pennsylvania backyard roller coaster, his school's news report outro presented monthly to over 1,200 students, and an overture to the play "Peter Pan" as well as transition scenes. Additionally, he serves as co-director of his school's pit orchestra.

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 at Juilliard Pre-College and Chris Rogerson, as well as cello with Rachel Henderson Freivogel. He has had masterclasses with esteemed composers such as Nico Muhly, David Serkin Ludwig, Amy Beth Kirsten, Vivian Fung, Viet Cuong, and Pascal Le Boeuf. He formerly studied piano with Natalie Zhu, cello with Yumi Kendall and Christopher Fiore, and composition with Emily Cooley.

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Ethan lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. Outside of music, he is an avid roller coaster enthusiast, skier, and traveler.

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note: Ethan's last name is pronounced "shoe." 

Ethan uses "he/him" and "they/them" pronouns. For consistency, this biography uses "he/him."