About the Episode:

How do musicians overcome frustrating performances and reach the highest efficiency possible while practicing? In this episode, violinist Brandon Hu explains the importance of planning, reflecting, researching composers and music history, and building a strong and loving relationship with oneself. Listen to Brandon share notable lessons from summer programs, speak about the intersection between music and writing, and give a framework for maintaining efficient practice every day.

About the Artist:

Brandon Hu is a sophomore at the John Burroughs School. Hu started playing the violin at three and at the age of eleven, started transitioning from a music lover to a serious musician. At the age of 9, he joined the Webster Community Music School’s (CMS) string orchestra. He joined CMS’s Young People’s Concert Orchestra in 2019 and was the principal of second violins at the Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra (YPSO) during the 2022-2023 season. During that season, he and YPSO were chosen to perform at the Missouri Music Educator Association.

Hu’s first concerto debut was with the Odyssey Chamber Series alongside two violinists performing the “Bach Triple Violin Concerto” as one of the winners of the Odyssey Concerto Competition in Columbia, Missouri. In 2023, he was awarded the runner-up at the Missouri state level in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) in the junior string division.

At John Burroughs School, Hu, along with his classmates, founded the school’s first ever chamber music ensemble, The Burrough Trio, and performed at the school and around the St. Louis Area.

Hu has studied at music festivals such as Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music Summer String Academy in 2023, Meadowmount School of Music in 2024, and University of Michigan’s MPulse Center Stage Strings in 2025. He has received guidance from pedagogues like Mr. Pasha Sabouri, Mr. I-Hao Lee, Ms. Danielle Belen, Mr. Elbert Tsai, and Mr. Simon James.

Hu would like to thank his former teacher Ms. Celina Casado for guiding him on the very start of the violin. He thanks Ms. Joo Kim who has taught over the last 9 years and has helped him to grow as a musician and as a person.

Intro/outro music: Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37, performed by Brandon Hu