“ I learned a lot about how to think beyond the notes of the piece. I realized that playing requires just as much effort to think about the message you’re trying to convey”
– Shu-Hsin Ko
How did Bellingham become your home?
After having first-hand experience of the trauma from the 9/11 attack and the following anthrax scare, my husband and I decided that we wanted to take a step away from the busy city life. We came across Bellingham because of its tranquil environment and easy access to the mountains and the ocean.
Tell us about your journey to the violin as your instrument of choice?
My time learning at the Yamaha school was very impactful on my journey as a musician. At the age of 6, I won the Pan-Asia Composition Competition. This altered appreciation of music motivated me to want to learn another instrument.
How did you decide to make a life in music?
My heavy involvement in chamber music in high school inspired me to pursue a music career internationally. After college, I moved to New York to further my studies alongside influential musicians.
Where did you complete your musical studies?
I received my Master of Music (MM) at the Manhattan School of Music.
Are there any musicians or teachers in particular who have played important roles in forming your thoughts as a musician?
I had the great opportunity to study under Nancy Tsung while in college. Nancy, who worked alongside Dorothy DeLay, had just completed her PhD at Juilliard. Through her teaching, I learned a lot about how to think beyond the notes of the piece. I realized that playing requires just as much effort to think about the message you’re trying to convey. She encouraged us to listen to many different performances to inspire us to come out with new ideas of how to shape our playing.
Do you remember a time when you were young and something musical just grabbed you?
When I was in high school, Joshua Bell performed a recital in Taipei, Taiwan. This was my first time experiencing the performance of a world-renowned musician. His level of playing was so inspirational because his musicality was so powerful. I realized there’s still so much potential my violin playing can have.
Share some of the musical moments that have most inspired you? Performances you’ve watched or been involved in or both.
Ten years after hearing Bell perform in Taipei, I had the great pleasure to share the stage with him when he performed the Barber Violin Concerto. It felt life-changing for this story to come full circle and see how what started as witnessing a performance as an audience became a part of the performance.
How do you spend your time outside music? Other interests?
In my free time, I enjoy practicing yoga, swimming, hiking, and spending time with my kids and dogs. I also enjoy traveling, where our family likes to try many different Via Ferratas in the Alps.
What are among your favorite classical pieces with and/or without violin?
My son inspired my new fixation with Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. I particularly love the Brass Chorale in the 6th movement, which focuses on nature. It brings me a lot of joy as it allows me to immerse myself in the music without thinking about what’s going on around me.
What was a most unusual performance you were involved in?
During my time in New York, I performed at the Blue Note jazz club with Ray Price. It was a new genre of music I hadn’t played before, and the endurance and stamina that this performance required were unlike none other.
