‘…the most perfect delivery I've ever heard live of the treacherous horn solo from Isaac Shieh (in the bass aria "Quoniam tu solus sanctus"). It might seem invidious to talk of stars when this is all about ensemble, but Shieh truly crowned the whole achievement.’ - David Nice, The Arts Desk

Described as a ‘natural horn virtuoso’ (The Horn Player) and an ‘era-defining’ (Il Graffio) musician, Isaac’s work takes him around the globe; exploring repertoire and instruments from early 18th Century through to the present day.

As a soloist, Isaac has starred with the London Chamber Orchestra, Australian New Goldberg Orchestra, Royal Welsh College Chamber Orchestra, Royal Academy of Music Baroque Soloists, Music for Awhile, appeared as a solo artist at the British Horn Society Festival Gala Concert and Edinburgh International Festival, and has performed at Wigmore Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Dora Stoutzker Hall, St Mary le Strand, Queen’s hall (Edinburgh), as well as St. George’s Hanover Square amongst others. He was awarded Associate in Music, Australia at age 15 and became the first historical performer to win the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Brass Concerto Competition (2016), RWCMD Concerto Competition (2018), and the British Horn Society Award: Solo Performance Artist (2018). Isaac collaborates regularly with renowned composers such as Dai Fujikura and Michael Finnissy, as well as emerging composers, to create works specifically for him, and has also performed in front of HRH Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall at Llwynywermod, and as a featured soloist in the President’s Dinner hosted by Lord Rowe-Beddoe of Kilgetty.

However, his activities are not limited to historical performance. Isaac is a sought after orchestral musician, and has performed with numerous period and modern orchestras around the world. He was formerly Co-Principal of Oxford Bach Soloists, Melbourne Sinfonia, Principal No. 2 of Bath Festival Orchestra and regular guest of Haydn Philharmonie. He performs regularly with Britten Sinfonia, Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and is a casual musician with Australian Chamber Orchestra, Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, MusicAeterna Orchestra, English Touring Opera Orchestra, and Les Siècles. In addition, Isaac has appeared as guest principal with The Hanover Band, Croatian Baroque Ensemble, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Brecon Baroque Festival Orchestra, Luminaire Orchestra, as well as with I Fagiolini at the Ryedale Festival, Shadwell Ensemble at Nevill Holt Opera, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at Glyndebourne, London Handel Orchestra, Ex Cathedra, Ensemble Cordia, Britten Sinfonia, Welsh National Opera, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He was also a Natural Horn Grant Award Holder with the Theresia Orchestra for 2018-2020 and held the horn position for the 2019 Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Peter and Ann Law Experience Scheme. Passionate about promoting diversity and inclusivity in the classical music scene, Isaac has been working with Chineke! since 2020 and is a member of Paraorchestra since 2021.

A keen chamber musician, Isaac has guested with the Australian National Academy of Music and delighted audiences at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. He collaborates regularly with some of the world’s finest musicians, and is a founding member of The Five Musketeers, a wind quintet ‘comprised of outstanding international musicians’ on historical instruments, and the award-winning, Melbourne-based Maverick Brass Quintet. With the Maverick Brass Quintet, they were awarded 3rd Prize at the 14th Jeju International Brass Competition. In 2018, Isaac was on trial with Paris-based contemporary ensemble Le Concert Impromptu, regarded by the Washington Post as ‘the finest French wind quintet’, and in 2021, Isaac joined International Contemporary Ensemble for their Ensemble Evolution Summer Program. Isaac performs regularly with Chineke! Chamber Ensemble, has also recorded with Prince Regent’s Band for their upcoming commercial disc and is a member of Zagreb Baroque Winds and the newly re-formed Blackadder Baroque Brass.

Isaac completed his Bachelor of Music at The University of Melbourne in 2016, with Spiros Kessaris as his principal teacher. During his study, he was awarded the Donald William Thornton Bequest Scholarship (2014-2016), AG McMillen Arts Trust Scholarship - Music (2014), Frank Barzyk Brass Scholarship (2015), Athenaeum Club Instrumental Ensemble Prize (2016), Orloff Family Charitable Trust Scholarship (2016), Ormond Exhibitions Scholarship (2016), CG McWilliam bequest Scholarship (2016) and was the winner of MCM Chamber Music Competition (2016). He was also awarded the Welsford Smithers Memorial Travelling Scholarship in 2017, which supported his postgraduate study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Isaac studied with Anneke Scott on the natural horn at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and completed a Master in Music (Historical Performance), where he was awarded The Gilbert Instrumental Prize for Overseas Students (2018), 2nd Prize of the Linda Mowat Prize (2018), and The May Edwards Prize for Music (2019). His study was also supported by a College Scholarship and The Clive and Sylvia Richards Charity. Isaac completed a Professional Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music in 2020, with Roger Montgomery as his principal teacher. During his time, he was supported by the San Martino Award, and became the first baroque hornist to win the Nancy Nuttall Early Music Prize. Isaac is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Music (PhD) at the Royal Academy of Music, supported by the Enlightenment Award and the Sir Reginald Thatcher Prize, under the supervision of Professor Neil Heyde.