John Hsu is a former Cornell University music professor. Hsu worked with Cornell for 50 years, from 1955 until his retirement in 2005.
Hsu 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.
He taught lessons in cello and viola da gamba, and courses in music theory, music history and performance.
Hsu founded and conducted the Apollo Ensemble, a period-instrument chamber orchestra, as well as founding the Haydn Baryton Trio. For several years he was the Artistic Director of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.
Hsu is a world-renowned player of the viola da gamba and baryton, recording and touring throughout the United States and across Europe. In 2000, the government of France and its Ministry of Culture admitted him to the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres as a chevalier, in recognition of his life-long commitment to French Baroque music as a scholar, performer and teacher.