Clarence Chan, violin
Andy Au, viola
Jennifer Mak, piano
Clarence began playing the violin when he was 11 under the guidance of Tak-Ng Lai. After completing his grade 10 piano at the age of 13 with the help of Aster Lai, Clarence played piano at the ARCT level until he decided to stop to spend more time on violin and school. He first joined the TCYO when he was introduced to Mr. Lai and has been a part of the orchestra for almost 6 years. He has enjoyed orchestra since it has allowed him to meet new people and become a better player. Clarence was also a major part of school music, having graduated from elementary school with the music award as well as the OBA band leadership award. After experiencing and playing a variety of instruments, Clarence continues to find the violin the most difficult to master, and believes that it is able to bring out his true passion for music.
Clarence was once enrolled in the Gifted program at Woburn Collegiate Institute, but now attends Bayview Secondary School. While music has always been part of his life, he also enjoys playing sports and is on the badminton and track team at school. Although Clarence is unsure of what career path to take, he hopes that he can continue to find time music in his life even in post-secondary education.
Andy Au is currently 16 years old. He began learning the violin at age of 7 at Rockson Piano Company in Hong Kong. However, he stopped one year after when he and his family immigrated to Canada. He did not continue learning the violin until the age of 9 when he began taking lessons again with Mr. Tak-Ng Lai. He joined the Toronto Cultural Youth Orchestra in 2004. He was the second violin principal of the TCYO Junior Orchestra for two years. At the age of 11, he switched from the violin to the viola under the guidance of Mr.Tak-Ng Lai. Andy is currently the viola principal of the TCYO Senior Orchestra. With the orchestra, Andy performed at many places such as Splendid China Tower, the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care and the Toronto Centre for the Arts. He recently passed his Grade 10 RCM viola examination and performed with the Canadian Sinfonietta in the Youth Mentorship Program. Andy is currently a grade 10 student of Thornlea Secondary School. He enjoys playing sports and video games with his friends.
Jennifer is 18 years old. She began studying piano with Aster Lai at the age of 4, and began playing the violin with Mr. Tak-Ng Lai at the age of 6. Jennifer has won numerous awards, among them the Grace E. Lawson Senior Piano Trophy, Chopin Piano Award from Scarborough Lions Club, The Most Promising Violinist Award from Arts Richmond, 2nd place awards at the Canadian Music Competitions in the age 7 and 8 piano categories, as well as yearly piano and violin awards from Kiwanis, Peel, Yip’s, Mandarin, and Scarborough Music Festivals.
She performed as a guest violinist for the Toronto Chinese Beauty Pageant in the year 2003. Jennifer has also performed at 2 different Grand Openings of the Yee Hong Seniors’ Home. At age 9, she performed the Bach Violin Concerto in E major with the Toronto Cultural Youth Orchestra.
At age 10, she performed the Kabalevsky Piano Concerto in D major, and at age 11, she played the Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, both with the Canadian Sinfonietta Orchestra. In June of 2006, she played Summer from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra. In June of 2007, Jennifer was a provincial finalist in the strings diploma level at the Ontario Music Festivals Association.
At the age of 10, Jennifer successfully passed her ARCT performer’s piano practical exam at age 10, and received her ARCT performer’s diploma at the age of 13.
Currently, Jennifer is an undergrad student at the University of Toronto.
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