Hwa-Chow Oliver Hsu 許華洲, Cellist

Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, Hwa-Chow Oliver Hsu began studying cello at age 5 and piano at age 10 and won awards on both instruments in Austria’s national “Jugend Musiziert” youth competition. After moving to the United States, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science with a minor in Music from Swarthmore College, where he was recipient of the Garrigues Music Scholarship and co-winner of the 2002 Swarthmore College Concerto Competition. He subsequently earned a Master of Music degree from Mannes College of Music in 2007 with a double major in Cello Performance and Music Theory. Mr. Hsu studied cello with Martin Hornstein of the Vienna Schubert Trio and Altenberg Trio, Vivian Barton, Deborah Reeder, and Paul Tobias; in addition, he considers his studies with renowned theorist Carl Schachter and pianist Marcantonio Barone as critical influences in his musical education.

Mr. Hsu now works as a software engineer but maintains an active music life. In addition to part-time freelance work, he regularly plays with the Chelsea Symphony and also serves on the orchestra’s Board of Directors. He is also an avid chamber musician and undertakes the occasional foray into the contemporary singer/song-writer, jazz, and rock worlds. Mr. Hsu also served on the Cello and Theory faculty of the Bryn Mawr Conservatory in Bryn Mawr, PA from 2003 to 2011.

 

許華洲的父母分別是高雄、彰化人，兩人在維也納經商、學習鋼琴，許華洲也出生於維也納，從小學習鋼琴、大提琴。16歲隨母親來美，成長於費城，在Swarthmore College主修電腦，並於紐約Mannes College of Music取得大提琴、音樂理論碩士。