BIOGRAPHY
Peter Shu is a versatile pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, and educator whose career bridges classical, jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban, world music, and contemporary worship traditions. Born in Hong Kong and classically trained from an early age, he holds a B.S. in Music from North Central University and an M.Mus. in Music Education from Boston University. His studies encompassed classical piano with Dr. Herbert Johnson and conducting with Dr. Larry Bach, as well as jazz piano with Jimmy Hamilton, Bobby Peterson, and Nachito Herrera in Afro-Cuban forms.
A national touring performer and clinician, Shu has appeared in every major Minneapolis-St. Paul venue, including the Orpheum Theatre, State Theatre, Orchestra Hall, the Walker Art Center, the Dakota Bar and Grill, Target Center, and U.S. Bank Stadium. He has performed multiple times at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, including with the Robert Everest Expedition and in the Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire with Nachito Herrera. Shu founded and led ensembles including the Peter Shu Trio, Esprit de Corps, Rubix, the Chino Latino Jazz Project, and Sangre Común. He has served as musical director for Latin dance bands across salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, bolero, danzón, and cha-cha-cha styles, and as musical director of the Latin television program Domingo Espectacular. Additional collaborations include Mick Sterling and the Irresistibles, the groups Dizzy and MVP. He has held residencies with Heart of the City Worship, the Robert Everest Expedition, and Brazilfest.
Deeply rooted in worship and global music, Shu toured the U.S. and Canada with the Contemporary Christian ensemble One Accord. He specializes in multicultural worship and has directed professional-level ensembles while arranging music from diverse global traditions. Over the course of his ministry he has served congregations across multiple denominations, including the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Covenant Church, and Converge, and currently serves in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). In 2007 he founded Global Worship Movement (GWM), a missional initiative integrating dance and movement into worship that has led missions work in Trinidad & Tobago and continues to foster diversity and mentorship in churches and universities. His recordings include the instrumental worship album Adoration and the holiday project A Joyful Christmas. His full discography is available at petershumusic.com/production.
Shu's compositional reach extends to film and experimental forms. Credits include the independent feature Psalm 51 by Kris Barberg (Cohen Brothers) and Wharepapa, the latter co-commissioned by New Zealand’s state arts board. He has explored atonal composition and free improvisation in interdisciplinary settings that fuse live music with dance and movement.
An esteemed educator and institutional leader, Shu directed the North Central University Jazz Workshop ensembles for over two decades, leading them to first-place finishes in the Eau Claire Jazz Festival’s College Combos division from 2018 to 2022. He also served as Department Chair of the online BA in Worship and Music at SUM Bible College and Seminary. He continues teaching through PeterShuMusic.com and serves as Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Global Worship Movement, Inc.
With decades of high-level performance, production, arranging, and cross-cultural leadership experience, Peter Shu brings rare academic rigor, genre fluency, and innovative vision to any project.
