许厚德是一位中国作曲家，其音乐探索了哲学探讨与社会主题的交汇。他的创作扎根于对学术音乐的执着追求，在严谨的结构架构与真挚的情感表达之间寻求平衡。他的创作涵盖管弦乐、室内乐、合唱、歌剧以及声乐作品，旨在将对现代现实的个人反思转化为兼具形式精确性与直接情感清晰度的音乐语言。
许厚德的作品与学术研究曾在欧洲和亚洲的国际音乐节、学术研讨会以及音乐学院舞台上亮相。2024年7月，他的室内乐作品《离乡II》在西班牙瓦伦西亚国际表演艺术节（VIPA）上由 VISE 重奏组首演。2024年12月，他的萨克斯与钢琴二重奏《刻板印象》在北京中央音乐学院音乐厅上演。除了音乐会演出，他还积极参与学术交流，曾在上海音乐学院第八届音乐美学与当代音乐研究主题论坛暨艺术理论暑期研讨会等学术集会上发表研究成果。他的荣誉包括长江钢琴音乐奖学金一等奖（2021年及2022年）以及第二届“星海杯”全国中国风格钢琴作品展演青年组优秀奖。
在作曲之外，厚德亦积极投入于乐谱分析与教学领域。作为一名指导者，他曾私下指导青年作曲家与音乐学子，帮助他们成功考入四川音乐学院以及美国各大音乐学院的研究生项目。
许厚德目前正于美国辛辛那提大学音乐学院（CCM）攻读作曲博士学位（DMA），师从 Douglas Knehans 教授。此前，他在中央音乐学院获得作曲硕士学位（师从姚晨教授），并在深圳大学获得作曲学士学位（师从蔡建纯副教授）。在求学期间，他还得到了陈丹布、周强、纪宇、陈迅以及关剑等教授和学者的悉心指导与栽培，他们对许厚德音乐素养与作曲技术的培养许起到了至关重要的作用。
Houde Xu is a Chinese composer whose music explores the intersection of philosophical inquiry and social themes. Grounded in a dedicated commitment to academic music, his compositional approach seeks to establish a balance between rigorous structural architecture and authentic emotional expression. His creative output spans orchestral, chamber, choral, operatic, and vocal works, aiming to translate personal reflections on modern realities into sonic language that balances formal precision with direct emotional clarity.
Xu’s compositions and scholarly research have been presented across international music festivals, academic symposiums, and conservatory stages in Europe and Asia. In July 2024, his chamber work Break Away from Village II was premiered by the VISE Ensemble at the Valencia International Performing Arts Festival (VIPA) in Spain. In December 2024, his duo Stereotype for saxophone and piano was performed at the Central Conservatory of Music Concert Hall in Beijing. Alongside concert performances, Xu actively engages in scholarly exchanges, having presented research at academic gatherings such as the 8th Shanghai Conservatory of Music Theme Forum on Music Aesthetics and Contemporary Music Research / Arts Theory Summer Workshop. His honors include First Prize in the Yangtze River Piano Music Scholarship (2021 and 2022) and an Excellence Award in the Professional Youth Category at the 2nd Xinghai Cup National Competition for Chinese-Style Piano Works.
Beyond composition, Xu maintains an active involvement in music theory, score analysis, and pedagogy. As an instructor, he has privately mentored student composers and musicians, guiding them to successful admissions into graduate programs at institutions such as the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and music conservatories in the United States.
Xu is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under Professor Douglas Knehans. He previously earned his Master of Music degree in Composition from the Central Conservatory of Music under Professor Yao Chen, and his Bachelor of Music degree from Shenzhen University under Associate Professor Cai Jianchun. Throughout his academic development, he also received dedicated guidance and mentorship from Professor Chen Danbu, Zhou Qiang, Ji Yu, Dr. Chen Xun, and Dr. Guan Jian, all of whom played a vital role in shaping his analytical foundation and technical approach.