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Hsiao-Mei KuHsiao-Mei Ku

Title: Professor of the Practice
Office Location: 082 Mary Duke Biddle, Box 90665, Durham, NC 27708
Office Phone:
Email Address: hmku@duke.edu
Office Hours:

By Appointment

Education

  • M.Mus. Indiana University at Bloomington, 1983
  • Master of Music with Distinction, Indiana University, 1983
  • Recipient - Performer's Certificate School of Music, Indiana University, 1983
  • Special Program Iowa State University, 1981
  • Diploma Central School of Music, Beijing, China, 1970

Research Interests

  1. Numerous solo and chamber music appearances internationally as well as in the U. S. A. 
 2.Recordings with Ciompi Quartet on Sheffield Lab and Albany labels.
3.Solo CD album, "Music of Violn and Piano of Ma Sicong (I)", is first of the Naxos’s new series “Chinese Classics”, released under Naxos in July 2007
4. Solo CD of “Music for violin and Piano” volume 2 (Naxos 8.570605) by the Chinese composer Ma Sicong has been featured at ClassicsOnline in November, 2009 and has been released by Naxos in March, 2010.  The album can be found at: http://www.classicsonline.com/catalogue/product.aspx?pid=889226

Miscellaneous

A music composition " Sound. Distant" for violin and guzheng by Mark Kuss was premiered on my annual recital in fall of 2009 at Duke that was original created as a music response to Nasher Museum's exhibition entitled: "Displacement: Three Gorges Dam and Contemporary Chinese Art", has now developed into a collaboration on an extended work, a concerto in three movements for violin, guzheng and an orchestra. This project will have a great impact in the music world and as it is a first work ever written for violin and guzheng assisted by a western orchestra --a combination that has apparently no active history. Orchestra New England (ONE) in New Haven, Connecticut has invited composer Mark Kuss to write a three movements work featuring Jennifer Chang and me as the soloists and this new work will be premiered on May 7, 2011 as part of ONE's 2010-11 subscription series. An additional collaboration with Duke Chamber Players, a student-run chamber music orchestra during DCP’s 2010-11 season will be held at Von der Heyden, Perkins Library in April 2011.

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Certificate for Excellence in Performing Ma Sicong's Music, China Guangdong Province Ma Sicong Association, May 24, 2012
  • the DukeEngage Program Director Leadership Award, DukeEngage, November, 2010

Teaching (Fall 2024):

  • Music 398s.01, Advanced chamber music perf. Synopsis
    Biddle 019, Th 04:40 PM-05:55 PM; Biddle 101, Tu 04:40 PM-05:55 PM

Teaching (Spring 2025):

  • Music 399.01, Music community connect Synopsis
    Biddle 086, Tu 04:40 PM-05:55 PM

Recent Professional Work:

  (More...)

    Recordings
  • H. Ku. Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst.  TOCC 0189 Toccata Classics, 2013 .  [abs]
  • with  “Music for violin and Piano” volume 2, by the Chinese composer Ma Sicong.  Naxos 8.570605 Naxos, March, 2010 .
  • Hsiao-mei Ku and Ning Lu. "Music for Violin and Piano" Vol.II by Ma Sicong.  ClassicsOnline, November, 2009 .
  • Hsiao-mei Ku and Ning Lu. Violin and Piano Music of Ma Sicong (I).  Naxos, July, 2007 .
  • Malcom Peyton. String Quartet No.2. November, 2005 .  [abs]

   Commissions:

  • Ciompi Quartet Concerts Dates, 2014/01/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • "Sound. Distant", November 01, 2009 - present
    Commissioned and World Premiere of "Sound. Distant" for Violin and Guzheng by composer Mark Kuss
  • Hsiao-Mei Ku: Solo Performances, 2002, 2002/01/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • Hsiao-Mei Ku: Solo Performances, 1999, 1999/01/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku

   Solo Performances:
  • Solo Performances, September 29, 2013 - present

    October 20     Annual Duke Solo Recital, Nelson, East Duke University

    October 18                             Violin Solo Recital at The Forest at Duke, Durham, NC

    October 16                              Violin Solo Recital at Carol Woods, Chapel Hill, NC

    September 29                          Concert for Chinese Culture Week, School of Music, College of Fine Arts, University of Utah, Salt Lake City UT

  • Solo Performances, 2012 - present
    October 5 Solo Recital, Nelson Music Room, East Duke 
    October 3 Solo Recital, Carol Woods, Chapel Hill, NC
    October 2 Solo Recital, Croasdaile Village, Durham, NC

     September 28  Solo Recital, Forest@Duke, Durham, NC 
    July 15 Solo performance at Qinyuan Music Festival, Qinyuan, China 
    May 25 Solo Performance for MaSicong’s Centennial Celebration Concert, Xinhai Concert Hall, Guangzhou, China 
    April 22 Solo performance for MaSicong’s Centennial Celebration Concert, West Chester University, Philadelphia, PA
  • Solo Performances, 2009 - present
    December 3    Solo “Alexander's  Feast” by Handel, Duke Symphony
                    Orchestra, Baldwin, East Duke
    November 1     Duke annual recital, world premiere of “Sound.     Distant”
                    For violin and guzheng by Mark Kuss
    October 29            Violin Recital, Croasdaile Village, Durham, NC
    October 28            Violin Recital, Carol Woods, Chapel Hill, NC
    October 27            Violin Recital, Forest at Duke, Durham, NC
  • Solo Performances, 1990/09/01


    October 5 Solo Recital, Nelson Music Room, East Duke

    October 3 Solo Recital, Carol Woods, Chapel Hill, NC

    October 2 Solo Recital, Croasdaile Village, Durham, NC

    September 28 Solo Recital, Forest at Duke, Durham, NC

    July 15 Solo performance at Qingyuan Music Festival

    May 25 Solo performance at Ma Sicong's Centennial Celebration concert, Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou, China

    April 22           Solo performance for MaSicong’ CentennialCelebration Concert, West Chester University, Philadelphia, PA

                                             


   Performances:
  • Performances, 2012 - present
    December 24 Christmas Eve's concert, Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC
    December 16 Concertmaster, Trinity Avenue Presbyterian
    Church, Durham, NC
    July 15 Conducting Festival Orchestra, Qingyuan, China
    April 8 Concertmaster, Trinity Avenue Presbyterian 
    Church, Durham, NC
    February 26 Chamber Music Wilmington, NC
  • Performances, 2009 - present

    December 13            Christmas Concert, Duke Chapel, Duke
    Concertmaster, Presbyterian Church Chamber Orchestra,
                    Durham, NC
    December 12            Christmas Concert, Duke Chapel, Duke
    December 6            “Nutcrackers” the Carolina Ballet, Raleigh, NC
    December 5            “Nutcrackers” the Carolina Ballet, Raleigh, NC
    July  4                North Carolina Symphony Concert, Cary, NC
    July  3                North Carolina Symphony Concert, Garner NC
    July  2                North Carolina Symphony Concert, Fayetteville, NC
    June 27            North Carolina Symphony Concert, Cary, NC
    June 26            North Carolina Symphony Concert, Chapel Hil, NC
    June 22            North Carolina Symphony Concert, New Bern, NC
    June 20            North Carolina Symphony Concert, Cary, NC
    June 19            North Carolina Symphony Concert, Manteo, NC
    April 28            Medici & Stradivarius concert, Duke Garden, Duke
    April 13            Concertmaster, Trinity Presbyterian Church Orchestra
                    Durham, NC

   Compositions Performed:
  • Music for violin and Piano, 2010/03/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • Music for Violin and Piano, 2009/11/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • Violin and Piano Music of Ma Sicong (I), 2007/07/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • String Quartet No.2, 2005/11/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • Nassuh, 2005/03/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku
  • “Sinian”, “Xiyou” and “Yaoshanying”, 2005/01/01
    with Hsiao-Mei Ku

   Master Classes:
  • Master Classes, December 11, 2013 - present

    December 20                         Master Class at National Fine Arts University, Taipei, Taiwan

    December 18     Master Class at Wuhan Conservatory, China

    December 11     Master Class at Suzhou University Conservatory, China

  • Master Classes, October 20, 2013 - present

    November 24     Coaching Mallarme Youth Chamber Orchestra Players

    November 17     Coaching Mallarme Youth Chamber Orchestra Players

    October 27     Coaching Mallarme Youth Chamber Orchestra Players

     October 20     Coaching Mallarme Youth Chamber Orchestra Players

  • Master Classes, 2012 - present
    October 31 Sectional Coaching of Duke Symphony Orchestra, Duke
    September 30 Master Class for Mallarme Youth Chamber Orchestra, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC
    July 13-16 Master Classes and workshops, Qingyuan Music Festival, Qingyuan, China
    April 23 Master Class, West Chester University, Philadelphia, PA
  • Master Classes, January 01, 2011 - present


    September 18             Coaching Mallarme Youth Chamber Players

    May 5                         Master class, University of Southern University Connecticut

    January 30                 Coaching Mallarme Youth Chamber Players

  • Master Classes for Mallarme Youth Chamber Orchestra, UNC, 2007 - present
  • Master Classes, May 30, 2005 - present
    Chamber Music,University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

   Works Premiered:
  • Works Premiered, New Haven, CT, May 7, 2011 - present
    May 7 World Premiere of "Sound. Distant", a concerto for Violin/guzheng and Orchestra

    April 15 World premiere of " Journey of the West" by Chia-Yu Hsu

   Artistic Direction:
  • Artistic Direction, 2012 - present
    July 13-16 Conducting of Qingyuan Youth String Ensemble, 
    Qingyuan, China

   Series Coordinator/Director:
  • Series Coordinator/Director, 2010 - present
    Faculty Director of China/Zhuhai, DukeEngage. Led 12 Duke students for two months of service for DukeEngage China/Zhuhai “Empowerment Through Arts” program in Zhuhai, China
  • Series Coordinator/Director, 2012 - present
    May 10-July 15 Director of DukeEngage China/Zhuhai
    Program
    January 1-December 1 Pegram Concert Series
  • Series Coordinator/Director, May 09, 2010 - present
    Director of China/Zhuhai, DukeEngage. Led 11 Duke students for two months of service for DukeEngage China/Zhuhai “Empowerment Through Arts” program in Zhuhai, China
  • Pegram Concert Series Director, September 01, 2005 - present
    Pegram Dorm, East Campus, Duke University,

   Residencies:
  • Residencies, July 13, 2012 - present
    July 13-16 Inauguration of Qingyuan Music Festival
    Qingyuan, China
  • Mallarme Youth Chamber Music, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC, June 10, 2007 - present
  • UNC Chamber Music Workshop, Chapel Hill, NC, June 05, 2005 - present
    Week-long of Chamber Music Coaching
  • Monadnock Music Festival, Peterborough, NH, August 10, 1992 - present

   Other Activities:
  • Other, 2012 - present

    judge (juror) for the string area of the preliminary round of The Rosen-Schaffel Young Artist Competition in 2011 and 2012.


Visiting Professor of Guangzhou Xing Hai Conservatory, China

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