Chase Chong
莊卓軒

Steinway Young Scholar | Recipient of the 2024 Steinway Standards of Excellence Award | CCIR Future Scholar (STEM Scholarship)

About

Born in Canada in 2009, Chase Chong is a warm-hearted and quietly determined student who finds purpose in helping others through learning and kindness. Now in Grade 11, Year One of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, Chase hopes to pursue a future in medical science, a field where his curiosity for biology and his desire to make a difference come together.Since childhood, Chase has been active in music, sports, and community service. When a serious leg injury in Grade 7 forced him to pause his athletic pursuits and ended his competitive path, he chose resilience over retreat, earning certifications in Standard First Aid, National Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, and Lifesaving Instructor. Now a Junior Leader at the Percy Norman Swim Club, he teaches younger swimmers and promotes water safety, while continuing to perform piano in charity concerts for local hospitals. Through music, Chase has learned that healing is not only physical but also emotional. His years as a pianist have shown him how music connects people from different backgrounds, brings calm, and strengthens well-being, values he hopes to carry into medicine.Over the years, Chase has also taken the initiative to have in-depth conversations with medical professionals, including his family doctor, pediatrician, dentist, optometrist, and pharmacist, to better understand the realities of healthcare. These experiences have shown him that medicine isn’t glamorous, but deeply human: it is about service, knowledge, and trust. Inspired by their honesty and compassion, Chase hopes to one day contribute to this profession with the same integrity and empathy.Chase believes that a good life isn’t measured by awards or prestige, but by the quiet ways one uplifts others, whether through music, in service, or one day, in medicine.

Music

Music as Discipline, Expression, and ConnectionChase first discovered his interest in piano while living in Hong Kong, where he was captivated by the instrument’s ability to create beautiful, expressive sound. Upon returning to Canada at the age of eight, he received his first piano and began formal piano studies with Ms. Mia Bie; later advanced under Dr. Jocelyn Lai, earning a Diploma in Piano Performance from the London College of Music, University of West London.Music has taught Chase focus, patience, and persistence. Since his first public recital at the University of British Columbia’s Roy Barnett Recital Hall at age nine, he has performed regularly in charity concerts supporting Lions Gate Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital & University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation, raising over $10,000 to date. He believes music can comfort and bring people together, a belief that continues to shape his character and sense of purpose.Chase received the Gold Award (Division IV, ages 14–18) at the 2025 Steinway Piano Competition Canada and got invited to perform at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York . Also a recipient of the 2024 Steinway Standards of Excellence Award and recognized as a Steinway Young Scholar https://steinwaysociety.org/young_scholars, one of the highest honors recognizing young musicians who excel artistically, academically, and through community leadership.To Chase, music is more than sound, it is connection. It reminds him that healing comes not only from science, but also from the heart.

Diploma in Piano Performance from the University of West London (UK)

Winner of 2024 Steinway Standards of Excellence Award
- An honour to receive the award from (left to right): Graham Blank, Vice-President of Tom Lee Music Canada; Andrew Chan, Superintendent of the Vancouver Police Department; Jeffrey Lee, Executive Director of Tom Lee Music Canada; and Iris Fan, General Manager of Tom Lee Music Canada and Executive Director of Steinway Young Artist Club

First public piano recital at the Roy Barnett Recital Hall at University of British Columbia at nine years old (February 2019)

Academics & Research

Exploring the science of life and the human body with patience and persistenceChase’s curiosity about how the human body works drives much of his academic and extracurricular exploration. He is currently pursuing the IB Diploma Programme, with Higher Level studies in Biology and Chemistry.He has participated in programs that deepen his understanding of medicine and neuroscience, including:
CCIR Cambridge Future Scholar Programme (November 2025 - Present) – Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine (awarded STEM Scholarship)
BC Children’s Hospital Mini Med School (October - November 2025) – Exploring Rare Diseases: Discovery to Treatment
UBC Future Global Leaders (August 2025) – Neuroanatomy: The Human Brain
Vancouver Brain Bee (UBC) Neuroscience Competition (2025)
TKEthics Global Olympiad Gold Medalist (2024)

Leadership & Service

True leadership is about being there for others, leading through service and actionChase believes leadership begins with humility and consistency. Whether in uniform, in the pool, or in the community, he strives to guide and support others through patience and action.As a Sergeant with the 111 Pegasus Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, Chase mentors younger cadets and leads drills that promote discipline, teamwork, and integrity. These experiences have helped him grow into a calm and responsible leader who values service over recognition. His commitment to self-development and community engagement was further recognized through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which celebrates perseverance, leadership, and voluntary service among youth.In the water, Chase has found another meaningful way to lead. From 2017 to 2020, he trained and competed with the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club (VPSC), earning multiple top finishes before the pandemic. Since 2021, he has continued his passion for swimming with the Percy Norman Swim Club (PNSC), where he volunteers weekly as a Junior Leader, teaching younger swimmers in both one-on-one and group settings, while promoting water safety. He is also certified as a National Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, and Lifesaving Instructor, and continues to compete on behalf of his high school swim team.Chase holds a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, which he learned since the age of four. Over the years, he has volunteered more than 150 hours teaching younger martial artists, encouraging them to train with focus and respect. Although his leg injury ended his own advancement in Taekwondo, it never diminished his dedication to helping others learn.Beyond sports, Chase is deeply committed to his community. Together with his siblings, they participate in the City of Vancouver’s Adopt-a-Block, Yellow Fish, and Adopt-a-Catch Basin programs, naming their project Legato, after the musical term meaning “smoothly connected.” To Chase, this symbolizes how small acts of care can join together to create something lasting.His service also extends to mental health advocacy through Here4Peers, a training provided by Canadian Mental Health Association, where he helps facilitate workshops for younger students on emotional wellness and resilience.Since 2019, he has performed in annual charity concerts, raising over $10,000 to support local hospitals and medical research.Through these experiences, Chase has learned that real leadership doesn’t come from titles, but from listening, teaching, and helping others feel seen and supported.

Chase winning his first competitive swim meet at six years old in Hong Kong (Spring 2016)

Internationally-recognized 2nd Dan Black Belt certificate in Taekwondo from Kukkiwon, Korea (July 2024)