A member of the Cornell music faculty from 1955 until his retirement in 2005, John Hsu taught lessons in cello and viola da gamba, and courses in music theory, music history and performance; conducted the Cornell Collegium Musicum, the Sage Chapel Choir, the Cornell Chamber Orchestra and the Cornell Symphony Orchestra; and was cellist of the Amadé Trio, Cornell's resident ensemble. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he received the Bachelor of Music in 1953, Master of Music in 1955, and Honorary Doctor of Music in 1971. Mr. Hsu is artistic director emeritus of the Aston Magna Foundation for Music and the Humanities, founder and conductor of the Apollo Ensemble (a period-instrument chamber orchestra), founder of The Haydn Baryton Trio, and a world-renown player of the viola da gamba and baryton. As instrumentalist and conductor, he has recorded award-winning CDs and toured throughout this country and Europe. He is also the editor of the first modern edition of the complete instrumental works by Marin Marais (1656-1728), published by Broude Brothers Limited and The Broude Trust. In May 2000, the government of France and its Ministry of Culture bestowed the high honor of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on John Hsu in recognition of his life-long commitment to French Baroque music as a scholar, performer, and teacher.

Photo: Frank DiMeo, Cornell University Photography