Biography

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Iris began her musical studies in 2015 at the age of five, inspired by listening to her sister practice piano. She later continued her training with distinguished teachers including Professor Gary Graffman, Dang Thai Son, Alexander Tutunov, and Senior RCM Examiner David Vandereyk. In 2018, she expanded her musical studies by learning the cello with Professor Joseph Elworthy, President and CEO of the Vancouver Academy of Music. Through time and dedication, Iris made significant progress in both instruments.

Iris has been a frequent top-prize winner in various piano and cello competitions and music festivals. In 2018, she won first place in the Little Mozart Competition and was invited to perform at the renowned Carnegie Hall. In 2019, she received the Canadian Young Artists Standards of Excellence Award from the Steinway Young Artist Program in Canada. In 2021, she participated in the Elite Young Artists Concert Series and the 8th GOCAA International Piano and Cello Competition (Preliminary), winning first prize in the Junior Division D and receiving an invitation to the finals.

In 2022, Iris advanced to the finals of the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) for cello in the 11-year-old division. She also won first place at the 2022 Pacific International Youth Music Festival for piano.
The following year, 2023, marked another milestone: she won first prize for cello at the 10th GOCAA International Music Competition, earned second place at the Vancouver International Music Competition for piano, and performed at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony. She achieved a perfect score of 5 on the AP Music Theory Exam and completed her ARCT piano diploma with first-class honours with distinction. In 2024, she attained her ARCT cello diploma, also earning first-class honours with distinction. She is the winner of the 2025 Pacific International Youth Music Festival and the first-place winner of the 2025 Sea to Sky International Piano Music Festival.

As a musician, Iris has gained extensive performance experience through charity concerts and community events. She has regularly performed O Canada at school assemblies since Grade 8 and frequently plays at senior care centers. In 2018, she performed in the “Music for Life” Charity Concert supporting the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. In 2019, she was invited to perform for the UBC and VGH Hospital Foundation at the VGH Charity Gala. In 2023, she performed at a fundraising event for the EGRC Foundation at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver.

Iris has been a member of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra since 2020. She performed in the “Save the Vancouver Aquarium” Charity Concert in 2021, played a piano solo with the VYSO Orchestra, and held her first solo piano recital in 2023, donating all proceeds to the EGRC Foundation. She won the VYSO Intermediate Orchestra Concerto Competition and performed as a cello soloist in the Rising Stars Concert on March 3, 2024. She was later invited to perform chamber music with Joshua Bell and the Chamber Orchestra of America at TED in April 2025. She has served as the principal cellist of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra since September 2025.

As a student at Crofton House School, Iris demonstrates high academic achievement across subjects. She earned a score of 100 in Honors Math, continues to excel in orchestra, and performs strongly in science, English, and social studies. Iris shows resilience when facing challenges and confidently works through complex problems. She is highly commended for her initiative in learning—she proactively seeks help when faced with difficult concepts and is persistent in forming a deep understanding of the material.

Iris received the Certificate of Distinction for scoring in the top 5% on the AMC 10 in 2024, qualified for AIME in 2025, and earned a Gold Award in the 2025 British Biology Olympiad.

Beyond academics and music, Iris is developing her leadership and communication skills. In 2022, she founded the JA Reading Club, which supports Grade 8–10 students in China in improving their English reading and pronunciation through one-on-one online sessions. The club now has more than 40 members.

As a young member of her local community, Iris enjoys bringing joy to others through music. A particularly memorable moment occurred during a senior home performance, where a resident—delighted to hear Haydn—shared that his hometown was remarkably close to where Haydn had lived. When Iris returned to the senior home the following week and performed another Haydn sonata, the resident remembered her and expressed great enthusiasm. Moments like these continue to inspire Iris to use her musical gifts to bring happiness to others.