Biography

Cindi Hsu’s music is noted for its richness in color, expressive melodic lines and open sincerity. Her music inspires to capture the essence of true human emotions and feelings, expressing wit and a sparkling sense of humor, as well as the capacity for expressions of deep pathos.  Her “storytelling” composition style was instilled in her early childhood, as she loved the spur of the moment bedtime stories that her father made up and told her each night. 

She is the winner of 2018 Bassoon Chamber Music Composition Competition (BCMCC,)  and one of the sixteen finalists for the Golden Hornet Project Inc’s annual String Quartet Smackdown competition in 2023 (Shall We Dance) and 2020 (Pizzazz.)

Her music has been described as being “Powerful, with incredible depth and perception into the human soul. It is poetry without words.” 

“Much love and expression”, “hauntingly beautiful”, “spirited, delicate and colorful” are a few of the observations made about the aesthetic quality of her compositions. 

A recipient of numerous ASCAP Plus Awards, Ms. Hsu’s music has been performed in Asia, Europe, and the United States in numerous venues including Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall.  Her composition “Salute” was premiered by the West Point Band at the Trinity Church in NYC for their September 11, 2016 remembrance concert. 

Ms. Hsu holds a B.F.A. degree in piano performance from Tunghai University in Taiwan, and a Master of Arts degree in composition from New York University. She has studied composition with Justin Dello Joio, David Diamond, Dinu Ghezzo, Philip Lasser, and Gordon Chin. 

Passionate about education at all levels, Cindi Hsu served on the composition and piano faculty of the Music Conservatory of Westchester in New York since 2001 prior moving to Colorado in 2017, and is currently teaching at Arapahoe Community College.  She was the principal pianist with Arapahoe Philharmonic from 2019 - 21.   Her teaching motto is to encourage and motivate each and every student to love what is challenging.