許立揚 Leon Hsu

Leon Hsu is a Taiwanese jazz pianist and composer active on the East Coast of the United States. His musical vocabulary is rich and diverse, rooted in the structures of traditional jazz (Swing, Bebop) while boldly exploring cross-genre fusion. His style encompasses contemporary jazz, free improvisation, Latin jazz, and fusion, as well as elements of classical, R&B, and electronic music. He earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Piano Performance from William Paterson University on a full scholarship, studying under legendary pianists Bill Charlap and Mike LeDonne. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a major in Jazz Piano, where he was a student of Gary Versace. Having received rigorous musical training in Taiwan since childhood, Hsu graduated from the music program at Taichung Second Senior High School majoring in theory and composition, which laid his multi-faceted musical foundation. During his six years in the United States, he has performed frequently across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with appearances in major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Rochester, and Buffalo. He has performed at the renowned Dizzy's Jazz Club (Jazz at Lincoln Center) and has shared the stage with international jazz masters including Chris Potter, Ingrid Jensen, Charles Pillow, Carmen Bradford, and the vocal group New York Voices. Leon Hsu has recorded as a pianist on four jazz albums and is deeply involved in cross-genre collaborations, contributing to album productions for independent bands such as Elephant Gym and Miss Alpacas. His musical strength, combining stage energy with creative depth, has been recognized at the Rubato Piano Competition – Jazz Division, where he received the Audience Choice Award in 2023 and took third place in 2025.