Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Languages
Timeline
EXPERIENCE
HIGHLIGHTS
AWARDS
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WAI YAN (KATE) CHU

Boston,MA

Summary

Passionate musician with 14 years of piano experience, 3 years of orchestral performance as a French horn player, and a growing focus on composition and film scoring. Born with 7 fingers, I have overcome numerous challenges to pursue my dream as a musician and composer. With 6 years of composition exploration, including 2 years of serious development, and 2 years of film scoring, I am dedicated to pursuing advanced studies in composition to further my artistic journey.

Overview

1
1
Certification

Work History

  • 3+ years of Piano Teaching experience: (2022 to present), taught piano to different age groups (children to adult)
  • Duet Experience: Accompany an adult violinist in weekly duet sessions, as a paid piano accompanist
  • Performed for the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) “Symphony Storytime” Program (December 2, 2023): Performance with orchestral brass musicians, accompanied the storytelling of “The Tortoise and the Hare”

Education

High School Diploma -

Okanagan Mission Secondary School (OKM)
Kelowna, BC, Canada
01-2025

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Songwriting Workshop, Berklee College of Music
Los Angeles, US
07-2023

No Degree -

Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra Composition Program
02-2026

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Private Piano Lessons
Hong Kong, Canada
02-2026

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Private French Horn Lessons
02-2026

Skills

  • Piano Performance
  • Film Scoring
  • Music Composition
  • Songwriting
  • Arranging
  • French Horn Performance
  • Music Theory
  • Photo and video editing
  • Amateur Guitar Playing
  • Musical Collaboration

Accomplishments

  • Co-wrote “Farewell Letter” with Iana Zhang; selected for performance at the Berklee World Music Student Association semester-end concert (November 2025)
  • Pianist and arranger for “Forever and Ever” at Larissa Hu’s senior recital (February 2026)
  • My composition “A Waltz of Imagination,” was performed by the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO) (November 2024)

Certification

  • Piano Diploma of the London College of Music (October 4, 2021): UWLQ Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance, taught by Marie McLauchlan and Michael Aston
  • Royal Conservatory of Music: Achieved Level 10 in piano and Level 8 in theory with plans to complete Levels 9, 10 in Theory by 2026

Languages

English
Native or Bilingual
Chinese (Cantonese)
Native or Bilingual
Chinese (Mandarin)
Full Professional
French
Elementary

Timeline

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Songwriting Workshop, Berklee College of Music

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Private Piano Lessons

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Private French Horn Lessons

High School Diploma -

Okanagan Mission Secondary School (OKM)

No Degree -

Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra Composition Program

EXPERIENCE

  • French Horn Player for Stone Ren's senior recital (September, 2025)
  • French Horn Player in the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO) (2022 to 2025): Performed in Vernon, Penticton, and Kelowna at Fall and Spring concerts, and at OSO side-by-side concerts
  • Band Trip to Cuba (April 23-30, 2024): Explored Cuban culture, performed with local students and teachers in Havana, and at public venues arranged by the Cuban Ministry of Culture; traveled and observed rural communities
  • Master Class with Jamie Sommerville (2024): Participated in a workshop with Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO) brass musicians, led by renowned French horn player Jamie Sommerville

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Guest speaker at Hong Kong Preschool video conferences (June 2021, 2023): delivered presentations on Canadian culture, shared insights into my piano journey, performed piano pieces and engaged with students
  • Participated in the Score Relief 2024 Film Scoring Competition: Scored the playful animation “Wing It!” with a style reminiscent of classic cartoons like Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry
  • Participated in the Indie Film Music Contest 2024: Scored the animation “Shopping Trip,” which captures one’s worry and unease of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK through a depiction of a solitary shopping experience

AWARDS

  • Kawai Canada Songwriting Contest (2024): 1st Place in the Advanced Level
  • Kawai Canada Piano Stars Competition (2024): 1st Place in the Advanced Level
  • Okanagan Mission Secondary School Awards Night (2023, 2024): Outstanding Contribution Certificates in Grades 10 and 11
  • Kelowna Community Music School (2022-2023): Honour Roll Award
  • Dorothy Jacobson Award (2023): Outstanding Performer Award
  • BC Interior Jazz Festival (2022, 2023): Gold Award with the OKM Jazz Band in Grades 9 and 10
  • 10th Hong Kong Students Open Music Competition (2017): 3rd Place in the Piano - Pop Intermediate category
  • 70th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival (2018): Piano Merit Award
WAI YAN (KATE) CHU