Pianist and singer Shu Tran (also known as Judy Gallego) grew up in the MTAC Pasadena Branch, studying under Vera Hoalim. She became a member of the branch herself in 2009 and settled in Altadena with her two sons, Luciano and Michelangelo, in 2016. Since then, she built a beautiful studio in her home, which she named “Lieb der Lieder Haus” inspired by her training in Austria.
Lieb der Lieder Haus served over 30 students during the time it stood, and served as a concert space for the American Liszt Society SoCal Chapter. In addition, Shu converted the garage into an outdoor performance space for the whole Altadena community to enjoy during the covid shut downs.
On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Lieb der Lieder Haus burned to the ground in the Eaton Fire. Beyond being their home, Lieb der Lieder Haus was Shu’s music studio, concert space, and homeschooling space. She had three grand pianos and one upright piano, all of which burned to cinders and ashes in the fire. By some stroke of ironic serendipity, Shu, the boys, and her partner Robert Parker trusted their intuition, and during the holidays, began triaging and packing their belongings into a trailer to start the transition into living on a sailboat, the goal of which is to sail around the world giving concerts and being conduits for peace. They trusted that was the correct timing to start packing, even though the did not have their vessel yet. Although there was much more to be done, when the fire hit, they were able to quickly hitch up their trailer and drive away, just as the fire consumed the mountainside behind them. They are choosing now to look at this disaster that ended a beautiful chapter of music, love, and community in Altadena as the beginning of a new chapter in which their mission of music, love, and healing extends to wherever in the world they can sail. They thank you ahead of time for participating in this movement in the symphony of their lives, crescendoing into a transcendent future.
If you wish to follow their journey, check out Shu’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@PianoPurposePeace, and if you feel inspired to support Shu and family in recovering their losses to the fire and transitioning onto their next endeavor, please subscribe to their Patreon: patreon.com/PianoPurposePeace.