BIOGRAPHY
Simon Hsing-Ho Hou | More than just a pianist
Hsing-Ho Hou is a Taiwanese pianist whose performances have been praised for their poetic sensitivity, technical finesse, and artistic insight. Equally at home in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings, Hou brings a distinctive voice to repertoire ranging from the Baroque masters to 21st-century works.
He has performed across the United States, Europe, and Asia, appearing at some of the world’s most renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall and Boston Symphony Hall (USA), the National Recital Hall (Taiwan), Richard-Wagner-Saal (Germany), Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània (Spain), and the Lee Foundation Theatre (Singapore). His international concert engagements have taken him to France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, China, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and Poland, earning him recognition as an emerging global artist.
A laureate of numerous international competitions, Hou has been recognized for both his virtuosity and interpretive depth. He is a prizewinner of competitions in the United States, Asia, and Europe, including the Boston University Richmond Piano Competition and the WPTA Finland Piano Competition, among others. In 2023, he was selected as one of only 19 finalists at the prestigious International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Weimar–Bayreuth—an achievement that affirms his growing reputation on the international stage.
Hou has collaborated with orchestras including the Boston Pops, Boston Civic Symphony, Boston University Symphony Orchestra, Boston University Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, and the Taipei International United Youth Symphony Orchestra, performing in roles that range from concerto soloist to orchestral pianist and chamber collaborator. He has worked under the direction of esteemed conductors such as Keith Lockhart, Ian Hobson, James Burton, Francisco Noya, Hao-Wei Chang, Stefan Asbury, and Mischa Santora. In the summer of 2025, he will make his debut with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at the Musikverein’s Golden Hall, followed by a solo recital at the Brahms Saal.
Deeply engaged in the international music festival circuit, Hou has participated in programs such as the Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy, Music-A Braine l’Alleud Piano Festival (Belgium), Ian Hobson Piano Festival (Puerto Rico), and the Valencia International Performance Academy & Festival (Spain). He has studied with celebrated pianists including Pascal Rogé, Dmitri Alexeev, Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri, Hie-Yon Choi, Alexander Kobrin, Boris Slutsky, and Pascal Nemirovski, and has played in masterclasses for artists such as Dang Thai Son, Sara Davis Buechner, and Robert Roux.
Passionate about new music, Hou frequently collaborates with contemporary composers. He recently premiered Sonata for Oboe, Flute, and Piano by John Goodman at the concert Past and Present – Music by Thomas Weaver and Former Boston University Composers, reflecting his commitment to the evolving language of classical music.
Born in Chiayi, Taiwan, Hou began his piano studies at age four with Huei-Min Cho, and continued with Yuchen Huang and Dr. Nam Yeung. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Piano Performance at Boston University, where he studies with Professor Boaz Sharon, and has also studied harpsichord privately with Peter Sykes. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (cum laude), and a Performance Diploma in Piano Performance, all from Boston University. Prior to that, he studied Education at National Kaohsiung Normal University in Taiwan.
Hou served for two years as the Keyboard Department Assistant at the Boston University School of Music and is a multi-time recipient of the department’s highest honors. He is also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, and previously served as President of the Taiwanese Overseas Students Association at Boston University.