SOTY 2023/24: Performing Artist first runner-up uses music to inspire and build community
Audrey Chiu Yui-ching, 16, has used music to raise environmental awareness and empower children from low-income families
Audrey Chiu Yui-ching, a 16-year-old student at Sacred Heart Canossian College, is the first runner-up in the Performing Artist category at the Student of the Year Awards. Photo: HandoutFor Audrey Chiu Yui-ching, a 16-year-old student at Sacred Heart Canossian College, her musical story began in primary school, driven by a simple wish to spend time with friends.
“It was almost by chance,” she recalled with a smile, “but it sparked something I’d never let go.”
She refined her skills in Western percussion during her secondary school years, mastering instruments such as the marimba and timpani.
Her curiosity led her to Chinese percussion when her school’s Chinese orchestra needed a player. With no formal training, she embraced the challenge, finding joy in the shared energy of ensemble music and the thrill of exploring new rhythms.
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For Audrey, music is a bridge that spans divides – a belief that took root when she realised not every child has access to its transformative power.
“Music can lift emotions and ignite motivation,” she said. “It’s unfair that some kids miss out because of their circumstances.”
This insight shifted her focus from solo performances to community impact, driving her to use music as a tool for inclusion and empowerment.
In 2023, as a core member of her school’s Music Society, Audrey helped reshape a voluntary music programme for primary school children from low-income families in Hong Kong’s Southern District.
The following year, as vice chair lady, she took a leading role, collaborating with the music office, her school’s visual arts team, and Green Torch, an environmental club she co-chaired.
The programme taught children how to create percussion instruments from recycled materials, such as plastic bottles filled with beads and cardboard boxes transformed into drums, merging music with lessons on sustainability and creativity.
Over four sessions, the children learned to play their handmade instruments, culminating in a charity concert alongside Audrey’s school music team.
“Seeing their pride on stage was unforgettable,” she shared.
During the programme, she forged a special connection with a child who had language barriers, using pink rabbit stickers he loved to build trust.
“Those small bonds mean the world,” she said.
Audrey’s talents shine beyond the classroom. Her percussion skills have earned her recognition in local and regional competitions, but one moment stands out: performing at the World Choir Games in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2024.
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As the sole percussionist, she played the drum to support a 70-person choir, adapting to Chinese music she hadn’t formally studied.
The team’s gold award in the youth category was a triumph, but Audrey most valued the lesson in collaboration: “Solo work lets me express myself, but ensemble music teaches me to lift others up,” she explained.
Her blend of artistry and service was honoured at the 2023/24 Student of the Year Awards, where she earned first runner-up in the Performing Artist category. Organised by the South China Morning Post and solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, this accolade celebrated her ability to fuse music with social good.
Yet Audrey finds greater reward in the lives she touches.
“Music isn’t about awards,” she said. “It’s about sharing its joy with others.”
Audrey dreams of a future where her passions might lead to fields like music or art therapy. For now, she’s committed to leaving a legacy of inclusion: “If one child finds a spark in music, that’s enough.”