Chase Chong
莊卓軒

Steinway Young Scholar | Recipient of the 2024 Steinway Standards of Excellence Award | Cambridge Centre for International Research 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 meaningful difference come together.Since childhood, Chase has been deeply involved in music, sport, and community service. When a serious leg injury in Grade 7 forced him to pause his athletic pursuits and brought his competitive path to an end, he chose resilience over retreat. He redirected his energy towards service and learning, earning certifications in Standard First Aid, National Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, and Lifesaving Instructor. Now a Junior Leader at the Percy Norman Swim Club, he assists to teach younger swimmers and promotes water safety, while continuing to perform piano in charity concerts for local hospitals. Through these experiences, Chase has come to understand that healing is not only physical, but also emotional. His years as a pianist have shown him how music connects people across backgrounds, brings calm in difficult moments, and supports overall well-being, values he hopes to carry into medicine.Alongside these commitments, Chase has taken the initiative to engage in in-depth conversations and job-shadowing experiences with medical professionals, including his family physician, paediatrician, physiotherapist, dentist, optometrist, pharmacist, and a speech-language pathologist, in order to better understand the realities of healthcare. These experiences have shown him that medicine is not glamorous, but deeply human: it is built on service, knowledge, responsibility, and trust. Inspired by their honesty and shaped by their compassion, Chase hopes one day to contribute to this profession with the same integrity and empathy.Chase believes that a meaningful life is not measured by awards or prestige, but by the quiet ways one uplifts others, whether through music, through service, or, one day, through medicine.

Music

Music as Discipline, Expression, and Connection

Chase first discovered his interest in the piano while living in Hong Kong, where he was captivated by the instrument’s ability to create expressive and emotive sound. Upon returning to Canada at the age of eight, he received his first piano and began formal studies with Ms Mia Bie. He later advanced under the guidance of Dr Jocelyn Lai, earning a Diploma in Piano Performance from the London College of Music, University of West London. In addition to the piano, Chase has also played the clarinet since elementary school and is currently a member of his high school’s senior concert band.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 the age of nine, he has performed regularly in charity concerts supporting Lions Gate Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and the UBC Hospital Foundation, raising over CAD$10,000 to date. Through these performances, he has come to appreciate how music can offer comfort, build connection, and create shared moments of calm.Since the COVID-19 pandemic, these charity concerts have become more inclusive through livestreamed performances and the use of QR codes for online donations, allowing elderly and immunocompromised community members to continue enjoying concerts safely from home. For Chase, this experience deepened his understanding of music not merely as performance, but as an act of care, accessibility, and social responsibility.Chase received the Gold Award (Division IV, ages 14–18) at the 2025 Steinway Piano Competition Canada and was invited to perform at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York. He is also a recipient of the 2024 Steinway Standards of Excellence Award and is recognised as a Steinway Young Scholar, one of the highest honours for young musicians who demonstrate excellence in artistry, academics, and community leadership.To Chase, music represents connection and care. Over the years, he has learned that healing comes from both science and the heart; from scientific knowledge that saves lives, and from music that brings calm, meaning, and hope. This balance continues to shape the person he strives to be, both in his community and, one day, in healthcare.

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

Chase’s interest in how the human body works has shaped both his academic studies and the choices he makes beyond the classroom. He is currently studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with Higher Level courses in Biology and Chemistry, which allow him to explore scientific concepts in depth and develop analytical thinking.As part of the IB, Chase is completing his Biology Extended Essay, designing meaningful biological experiments within real-world constraints. Through this independent investigation, he is examining how caffeine affects the activity of the digestive enzyme amylase during starch digestion. Working within the practical limitations of a school laboratory has challenged him to design careful experiments, control variables thoughtfully, and reflect critically on results. This process has strengthened his appreciation for scientific rigour, patience, and ethical interpretation, skills he recognises as essential in medical research and practice.At school, Chase values balance. Alongside his academic studies, he continues to swim competitively as part of his high school swim team, a sport he has practised since the age of three. Swimming has taught him discipline, time management, and resilience, and remains central to maintaining both physical and mental well-being. He believes that a balanced lifestyle, combining academics, sport, and music, is essential for long-term health and personal growth.Chase also enjoys ethical discussion and teamwork. He participates in Ethics Bowl, Debate Club, and Model United Nations, where he develops the ability to listen carefully, express ideas clearly, and consider multiple perspectives. These experiences have helped him grow as a thoughtful communicator and collaborator, qualities he sees as fundamental to good medical practice.Beyond school, Chase has actively sought opportunities to explore medical science and neuroscience in greater depth. He has chosen to challenge himself through selective enrichment programmes that introduce university-level content and research, helping him better understand the pace, responsibility, and intellectual demands of a future career in healthcare.These experiences include:

Through these academic and super-curricular experiences, Chase has learned that medicine requires more than strong grades. It demands curiosity, balance, communication, and the ability to work with others under pressure, qualities he continues to develop both inside and outside the classroom.

Leadership & Service

True leadership is about being there for others, leading through service and action

Chase believes leadership begins with humility and consistency. Whether in uniform, in the pool, or in his neighbourhood, he tries to support others through patience and example.As a Sergeant with the 111 Pegasus Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, Chase works closely with younger cadets, helping to deliver training and reinforce values such as teamwork, discipline, and accountability. Through this role, he has learned the importance of clear communication and quiet reliability. His ongoing commitment to personal development and service has also been recognised through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, which encourages perseverance, leadership, and community involvement.Swimming has provided another meaningful setting for leadership. From 2017 to 2020, Chase trained and competed with the Vancouver Pacific Swim Club (VPSC), achieving strong results before the pandemic. Since 2021, he has continued swimming with the Percy Norman Swim Club (PNSC), where he now trains and volunteers weekly as a Junior Leader. In this role, he supports younger swimmers in both individual and group sessions, helping them build confidence while promoting water safety. He is certified as a National Lifeguard, Swimming Instructor, and Lifesaving Instructor, and continues to represent his high school on the swim team.Chase also holds a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, a discipline he began at the age of four. Over the years, he has volunteered more than 150 hours teaching younger students, encouraging focus, respect, and perseverance. Although a leg injury ended his own progression in the sport, it reinforced his appreciation for teaching and supporting others.Beyond sport, Chase remains actively involved in community service. Together with his siblings, he participates in the City of Vancouver’s Adopt-a-Block, Yellow Fish, and Adopt-a-Catch Basin programmes. They named their project Legato, after the musical term meaning “smoothly connected”, reflecting his belief that small, consistent actions can have lasting impact.His service also includes mental health advocacy through Here4Peers, a programme delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association, where he helps facilitate workshops for younger students focused on emotional well-being and resilience.Since 2019, Chase has also taken part in annual charity concerts, helping to raise over CAD$10,000 in support of local hospitals and medical research.Through these experiences, Chase has come to understand that leadership is built through listening, reliability, and care for others; lessons that continue to shape how he approaches service, learning, and his future in healthcare.

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)