New Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra violinist Zhan Shu began studying his instrument in his native China and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in the United States. He came to the orchestra's second violin section after seven years with the Milwaukee Symphony.
He lives in a Downtown apartment and enjoys movies and basketball. He's a fan of the Houston Rockets — whose center used to be the 7'6” Chinese star Yao Ming. Zhan plays three-man half-court pickup games at Duquesne University with symphony concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley and violist Meng Wang.
After playing first violin all his life, including in Milwaukee, Zhan says playing in a second violin section is interesting. “It's the same challenge and the same skill, but not what you expect.”
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life:
Tom Hanks — the nicest guy on TV
The superpower I wish I had in real life:
I am afraid of heights, but I don't know how many times I've dreamed of flying in my sleep and feeling super-cool about it.
Favorite app:
WeChat! It is like the Chinese version of Twitter.
I spend the most time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other:
I don't have Twitter and Instagram. I guess that's a good thing. But I am spending, or wasting, a lot of time on WeChat! and Facebook.
Pick one: Pirates, Penguins, Steelers or other:
Houston Rockets
Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:
“Catch Me If You Can”
Favorite lunchtime spot:
Everyday Noodle in Squirrel Hill
The song I want played at my funeral:
“Salut d'amour” by Edward Elgar
Favorite cable channel:
The History Channel, because they have a lot of stories about World War II.
Show I have or want to binge watch:
“Friends”
Favorite ethnic food:
Beside Chinese, I love all Asian cuisines: Korean, Japanese and Indian. Lately, I've been exploring Mediterranean food.
Top thing on my bucket list:
Sky diving
Best vacation ever:
A trip to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park last summer. I overcame my fear of heights and hiked down the canyon and up on Angels Landing Trail in Zion.
Place I'd most like to visit:
Taiwan or England
The best concert I've ever seen:
When I was in grad school in Houston, I went to see a concert of the Guarneri Quartet playing the Debussy String Quartet and fell in love with their sound.
My most embarrassing junk food:
Cheetos
I wish I had more time to:
Spend time with my father, who passed away 16 years ago ... really miss him.
Three people I'd love to have dinner with:
Michael Jordan, Yao Ming and my favorite violinist, Arnold Steinhardt from the Guarneri Quartet
One word my mother would use to describe me:
Honest. Sometimes too honest
The piece of memorabilia from my childhood I wish I still had:
My quarter-size violin
When I was 10, I wanted to be:
A violinist. A good violinist
The most dangerous thing I've ever done:
I used to skateboard when I was a teenager. That's very dangerous for string player.
If I could go back, I'd tell my teenage self:
Do it again! No regrets.
Celebrity crush:
Anne Hathaway
My first job:
Violinist in the Milwaukee Symphony
My worst job:
I love kids, but baby-sitting my violin teacher's kid was the worst.
Favorite season:
Love the colors of autumn
Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:
Point State Park
My childhood nickname:
Shu Duck. Sounds funnier in Chinese
The person I'm most often mistaken for:
Every other Chinese guy?
Childhood hero:
I started liking and playing basketball when I was in middle school. Back then, the Chinese sports channel broadcast a lot Chicago Bulls games. So, Michael Jordan instantly became my hero.
My most treasured fashion accessory:
Patent leather Air Jordan 1
My most memorable fashion mistake:
White socks with black suit and shoes. I swear it was an accident.
What you'll always find in my glove compartment:
Nothing valuable. My car got broken into a few months ago.
If I wasn't a musician, I'd be:
An athlete, maybe? I am very competitive on the basketball court, only I wish I could jump higher and run faster.
The last book I read:
I am ashamed to say I don't read very much. But, I was forced to read “Tale of Two Cities” and “Jane Eyre.”
My favorite website:
Happiness is:
Inner peace
People would be surprised to know that I:
Was on a Chinese dating show a few years ago
My favorite thing about Pittsburgh:
I love all the bridges. I've never seen this many bridges in one city.
Favorite guilty pleasure:
Watching the “Star Wars” trilogy over and over
My favorite TV or movie villain:
That's gotta be Darth Vader.
