Frederick Chao, currently a member of the cello section of The Phoenix Symphony and cellist with Quartet Sabaku, was previously the associate principal cellist of the Honolulu Symphony. He has been a member of the Delmar Trio, Stonybrook Trio and the Philharmonic String Quartet.

Chao received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, where he was awarded the coveted Performers Certificate, and his master’s degree from The State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he was chosen to be a member of the Stony Brook Graduate Trio. He has studied cello performance with Janos Starker, Bernard Greenhouse, Gary Hoffman, Ronald Leonard, Frank Miller and Dudley Powers.

Fred and his wife, flutist Barbara Chao, often perform flute and cello chamber works. They have a teenage daughter, Clarissa.