Nu Deco Pianist and Violinist Extraordinaire
by Zach Manzi
Gabrielle Chou is one of the few people to have double majored in violin and piano at Juilliard. I don’t know if that’s the first sentence of her bio, but it’s certainly an ear-catcher. Gabrielle and I overlapped in school for a couple years, but only really met afterward through Nu Deco. I was surprised to learn that she played violin––I remember seeing her around school, at the piano, practicing almost all the time. But Gabrielle is actually even more than an incredible pianist and violinist. Based in New York, she is a professor of music history at Baruch College and performing all over the city. She recently joined an ensemble I co-founded called Conduit (shameless plug), so I’ve had the fortune to get to know her intense yet bubbly approach to music-making. Gabrielle will be down in Miami around eight times this season, between shows for Nu Deco and Conduit, and I had a chance to catch up with her briefly and get to know her story a bit more than I knew already.
Z: Hey Gabrielle, I think we joined Nu Deco around the same time. How was it that you got involved?
G: I first heard about Nu Deco last spring when one of my friends and classmates at Juilliard was called to be a sub pianist for a show. I’m actually from South Florida but had left home for school before Nu Deco was established, so I took the opportunity to go home for a weekend and also hear my friend play! It was the concert with Kishi Bashi and the Depeche Mode suite. [After the show] I was so hyped and absolutely blown away that I sent an email to Sam introducing myself and saying that if they ever needed a pianist or violinist I’d be totally up for it. It seemed like a crazy shot in the dark, but I ended up being pulled on board for Nu Deco’s first out-of-state performance a couple months later in Saratoga!
Z: So, you’re in New York, but also in Miami, and I know you grew up here! How does that commute work?
G: I live in New York, but I say I’m partially based in Miami because I come down so often! Nu Deco is great––really fun music, really freaking good musicians, a chance to come back to my home turf, and fish tacos. Also, Nu Deco weeks feel like vacation compared to the New York hustle! It’s always a breath of fresh air and it helps me remember how enjoyable music-making can be. Besides Nu Deco I have a clarinet-percussion-piano trio called Conduit that’s based at the Univerity of Miami. In New York, I’m currently a doctoral student at the CUNY Graduate Center, adjunct professor at Baruch College, staff pianist at Juilliard, and musicianship faculty at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School upstate. I also teach privately and, of course, I play a ton. It’s a lot to juggle! I’m also working on creating a new chamber music festival and workshop in South Florida for middle and high schoolers that will hopefully debut next winter. Stay tuned!
Z: We definitely will––I’ll make sure that we include a link to your website in this article. The people of Miami will have a lot of opportunities to see you perform this year. To take a slight turn, what are some of your greatest passions, dreams, and commitments outside of music?
G: I know I’m literally in a doctoral program for music, but I’ve considered going to art school, or at least studying art history! I also love reading, going to film festivals, and playing video games. Basically, all kinds of art interest me. In the future though, my partner and I hope to open a sanctuary for old dogs. I’m not sure where, since we’re both in New York for the foreseeable future, but that’s definitely a life goal for me.
Z: I’m definitely coming to visit as often as possible when the sanctuary opens. Finally, what has been your favorite Nu Deco moment?
G: In February we got to play at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, and that was the first time I got to play as a violinist in the group! It was pretty great because everyone was like, wait, why are you sitting up there? Also, we got passes to the festival, so we got to run amok on the beach in our concert attire afterwards. I must’ve hoarded like, ten bags of potato chips in my violin case.
Z: Thanks for the talk, Gabrielle!! I’m sure I’ll see you very soon down here.
G: Thank you!