Cool Music Education


Xuesi Xu
PQ Master composition Faculty
PQ Master Music Theory Faculty
DMA Composition Florida State University

Born in Shanghai, China, Xuesi Xu holds a Bachelor of Music in composition from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music in composition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctor of Music in music theory and composition from Florida State University. He has studied composition with Liliya Ugay, Mark Wingate, Heinrich Taube, Reynold Tharp, and Stephen Taylor, and electronic music with Eli Fieldsteel, and Carla Scarlatti. As an Asian composer, Xu endeavors to dispel the old notion of the exotic-oriented by embracing western music and fusing both eastern and western musical elements. His music has been performed by leading ensembles, such as Arditti Quartet, Icarus Quartet, Divergent Quintet, Kamratōn ensemble, Slee Sinfonietta,
North/ South Consonance, Albany Symphony, and Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. As a music theory teacher, Xu works worked successfully with students from different backgrounds.