WAI YAN (KATE) CHU

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.

• 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)

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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