Howard Chu
Howard leads the band, playing fiddle and mandolin, singing bass, and step-dancing.
A singer all his life, he started playing fiddle in the summer of 1991
and hasn't stopped since. The musical path has been a twisty one.
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1977 - started learning violin, 5th grade
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1978 - quit violin, 6th grade
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1979 - joined glee club 7th grade, performed in school musical
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1980 - resumed violin, 8th grade, performed in school musical
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1981 - vocal master class at Interlochen
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1982 - quit violin, 10th grade. joined madrigal choir
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1983 - resumed violin, sang backup for Barry Manilow at Pine Knob, Michigan
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International Music Festival, Ottawa Canada
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gold medal for orchestra
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silver medal for choir
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Midwestern Music conference
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featured choir
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featured orchestra
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1984 - 12th grade, violin master class at Julliard
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Midwestern Music conference
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featured choir
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featured orchestra
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1984-85 - quit violin, joined University of Michigan Men's Glee Club
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sang National Anthem at final game of World Series (Detroit Tigers vs San
Diego Padres)
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five week performance tour of Europe
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International Eistedfodd, Llangollen Wales - silver medal
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multiple recordings including Great Halls of Europe
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1986 - quit music
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1987 - joined Our Lady's Madrigal Singers
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Renaissance faires and Dickensian caroling
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Multiple recordings including Songs of Love and Death
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1989 - joined State Street Serenade - vocal jazz a la Manhattan Transfer
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1990 - joined Ann Arbor Cantata Singers - Durufle Requiem
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1991 - moved from Michigan to California
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joined Cantores Atri Mortis
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early music master class with Paul Hillier
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joined Foothill Master Chorale
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joined Country
Matters
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Renaissance faires and Dickensian caroling
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first taste of fiddle music
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1992 - fiddle lessons from Cait Reed
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1993 - Lark in the Morning music camp
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1994 - fiddle workshop with Dave Swarbrick
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1995 - fiddle is finally sinking in
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recorded on Country Matters' Let
Us Servire Cantico
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performance with the Chieftains, Cerritos Performing Arts Center (with
Ian)
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Topanga Banjo and Fiddle contest, 3rd place
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performance at McCabe's, Santa Monica with Ian
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Highland Sun is formed
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step-dancing lessons from Martin Morrisey
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1996 - more fiddle!
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Highland Sun Sampler and CD Preview released
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Topanga Banjo & Fiddle contest, Highland Sun takes 3rd place
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four week tour of Ireland, workshop with Martin Hayes at Willie Clancy
festival
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jam session with Altan
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Highland Sun Celtic Crossover
begun
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1997 - still more fiddle!
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performance with the Chieftains, Thousand Oaks Fine Arts Center
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joined Cantori Domino
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Irish News fiddle contest, 2nd place
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Highland Sun Celtic Crossover
released
There is of course a parallel story of a professional
life going on here, but that's a different matter entirely.
