Artist of the Month: November 2025
Actor,Writer,Theatre Board of Directors
Based in Calgary, Alberta
Artist Bio
Hymns Chu is an actor, singer, and scriptwriter now based in Canada. With a powerful baritone voice and ACTRA member, he brings both musicality and depth to stage and screen. Hymns has performed with community choirs and theatre companies, blending his artistic craft with his passion for storytelling. His work often explores belonging, transformation, and resilience, reflecting his journey as an immigrant and advocate for newcomers. Dedicated to community impact, Hymns views the arts as a force for connection and change.
You began your journey with independent films, and choral music in church. How did these early influences shape your path as an actor and writer?
I had a fairly common start as a “church kid,” attending services with my parents and singing in worship. My school music teacher noticed my voice and encouraged me to join the choir, which built my confidence to perform on stage. As I grew older, I realized the inspiring people I admired were performing or working on-screen, which motivated me to create my own moments of expression. After moving to Alberta, I continued exploring my talents, finding pride and joy in each new experience. I realized I wanted to fall in love with myself rather than just admire others.
I also began writing stories to challenge stereotypes about me and share my culture. Transforming my verbal stories into written pieces allows me to connect with new audiences without repeating myself, and to express who I truly am.
Storytelling is central to your work. What kinds of stories are you most drawn to, and how do you hope they impact audiences?
I’m mostly drawn to road movies and adventure stories, as well as Japanese superhero dramas and video games from my early years. I tend to go against the mainstream: my main characters rarely have superpowers. Instead, they often appear vulnerable, sometimes suppressing their own goodness because of past unfair experiences.
Through their journeys, as they struggle and are supported by others, they gradually gather a group of strong allies. These allies willingly help the main character grow, without needing superpowers. By chance, one kind-hearted soul connects deeply with the main character, appreciating their unique nature and dedication to self-discovery. Together, they embark on a journey to challenge a world that is becoming corrupted.
I hope my stories do more than showcase ideas. Through adventures and encounters with different people, my characters demonstrate that life can be very different from what we expect, and that we can grow stronger, even without being the most competitive. This mirrors my own journey, stepping into new stages of life without knowing what will happen, and gradually discovering that embracing one’s uniqueness is the path to finding beauty, peace, and harmony, without being changed by the world or others.
Since arriving in Alberta, you’ve performed in theatre productions and short films, including The Vanquished. Can you share what those experiences taught you about acting in a new cultural landscape?
It’s about showing who I am in my nature. So far, most of the characters I’ve performed have either been Chinese or professional figures. I realize that I was often chosen for these roles because of my heritage and past work experience, which taught me to understand what I bring and what is valued in performances.
At the same time, these acting experiences have opened a door for me to see the acting world from a broader perspective, like learned about unions, contracts, and my own rights as performer, which has helped me understand in such a new cultural landscape. Even though I am grateful for my past roles, I hope to show more of how different and contrasting I am in real life. I don’t want to be framed into a stereotypical character based on my appearance. I’ve also learned the importance of being expressive and daring to reveal myself as a performer, even when most people react as if I am joking or acting just for fun. This has taught me to embrace authenticity and take creative risks on something new in me, which is essential to my growth.
Community seems to play a strong role in your journey. How have connections with other artists and organizations in Alberta influenced your growth?
Community has played a strong role in my journey. Through conversations with other artists in Alberta, I’ve seen how challenging their paths can be, yet how persistently they pursue their work and make difficult decisions along the way. Witnessing this has made me realize how fortunate I am to be able to continue doing what truly interests me.
The more connections I build with people in the artistic community, the more alive I feel. These interactions remind me that I am not isolated. I am part of a network of creators who inspire and support each other. Simple gestures, like being recognized or having someone call my name when we bump into each other on the street or at events, make me feel valued and grateful.
Through these relationships, I’ve learned the importance of being present, of giving and receiving support, and of appreciating the small moments of acknowledgment. These experiences not only enrich my artistic practice but also strengthen my sense of belonging, motivation, and the love I have for the work I do.
You’ve advised other artists to view self-presentation as an essential skill. What practical steps have helped you showcase your own work effectively?
I approach self-presentation gradually, sharing my work little by little with friends and neighbors, showing what I’ve recently created and inviting them to be part of the process. Over time, this helps me build confidence in presenting my work, and I learn to revise and improve it based on the feedback I receive.
Personally, I make a point to search my name or work in front of new connections, so they can recognize me and understand what I do. I’ve found this can be more effective than asking them to attend a performance, because it allows them to discover my work on their own without any pressure or cost.
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