30. Jing Quan Chong

Jing Quan Chong, 13 years old, was born in Singapore. He followed his family to Sydney, Australia, when he was almost 3 years old. Intrigued by the sound of the piano when his older sisters play the instrument, he wanted to learn to play it too. From young, his musical talent was apparent as he could play different music on the piano after merely listening to the pieces.

He played the piece ‘Silent Night’, a piano trio with his two older sisters, in his first concert at 4 years old without any formal piano lessons. At 5 years old, he started formal lessons with Ms Lynette Tang, his sisters’ piano teacher.

After a year, his family moved to Perth and he stopped learning the piano for a year due to the move. After piano lessons resumed, he started the AMEB piano syllabus and completed grade 4 before coming under the tutelage of Mr Yoon Sen Lee. Thereafter, his progress took off and he completed four AMEB piano grades in under 2 years. At the same time, he took part in numerous local and international piano competitions and achieved many awards. Notably, at 11 years old, he became National Steinway online competition winner and held solo concerts to full house audience in both Sydney and Perth. Before he turned 12 years old, he has already completed AMEB Certificate of Performance with a high distinction and Associate of Trinity College London (ATCL) level 4 diploma in music performance with Distinction.