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Surrey/White Rock
Surrey and White Rock, neighboring cities in Metro Vancouver, offer a mix of suburban comfort and scenic coastal living. Surrey boasts parks, cultural centres, and rapid urban development, while White Rock charms with its beachfront promenade, pier, and artistic vibe.
Nico Huang
District Director
Hello everyone! I’m Nico. I am a grade 10 student living in White Rock, BC. I am working on my associate diploma (ARCT) on piano and I also play other instruments such as guitar, alto saxophone, bass clarinet. My passion for music has grown exponentially in the past few years into something that I can’t imagine living without. I am currently playing piano for our school jazz band and our combo, bass clarinet for school concert band, and also singing tenor in our school jazz choir. I joined the Chords of Care to spread the joy of music through community events. Being a part of Chords of Care really changed my life connecting with more talented musicians and learning to take on leadership roles. Outside of music, I am a fun swim coach. I really love teaching because it’s something that makes my life meaningful, passing on lifesaving skills to others. I also love dashing through the trees on my skis with my friends during winter. I also have a YouTube channel. Just type in “Nico Huang” on Youtube to find some entertaining music content!
Elaine Li
Vice District Director
Hello! My name is Elaine Li, and I’m a Grade 10 student from Surrey, BC, Canada. My musical journey began at age six when I started learning piano, completing several levels by the time I was eight. After that, I joined a junior youth chorus and later picked up the alto saxophone, which I’ve been playing for four years through my high school program. Currently, I perform in a jazz combo with my best friends, and we love performing together at school events and festivals. I joined Chords of Care because I believe sharing music with seniors, especially through free performances, is truly meaningful and beautiful. I also hope to help our branch grow by connecting with local communities I’m familiar with. Through COC, I’m excited to connect with others who share the same passion for music and giving back. Together, we can make a real difference, one song at a time.
Ruby Cai
Forms Design Director
Hello! I’m currently in grade 8 and I live in Surrey, BC. My musical journey began at the age of 3 when my mom introduced me to the piano, and from there on, I quickly developed a deep passion for it. By grade 2, I decided to take it more seriously, and now I’m at level 10, with plans to complete my exam and move on to the ARCT. I’ve attended numerous piano concerts, including international ones, which have greatly inspired my musical growth. I also play the Alto Saxophone and Clarinet in my school’s jazz and concert band.
Music provides me with a sense of calm and offers a way of expressing my emotions. This experience has allowed me to further expand my musical abilities and explore different genres. I became involved with Chords of Care because I believe it’s a meaningful way to deepen my appreciation for music, while contributing and giving back to the community. Outside of music, I enjoy rock climbing, drawing, and taking walks along the beach as well as hanging out with my friends. Through Chords of Care, I hope I can meet new people, create a better community for us, and show appreciation for music to our senior homes!
Ben Kim
Human Resources Co-Director
Hello! My name is Ben Kim, and I live in Surrey, BC, Canada! I’m a grade 10 student who loves jazz, retro pop, and all things music! I’ve been playing jazz/orchestra trumpet for three years, dabbled in piano when I was younger, recently picked up acoustic guitar, and plan to keep collecting instruments like Pokémon. When I’m not blasting my trumpet, you can find me lifeguarding at the pool, coaching volleyball, or tutoring math (yes, I make x find itself). I am also a black belt in Taekwondo which just means I can defend myself and my love for music. I joined Chords of Care not only to work on something meaningful with friends but also to give my passion for music back to a loving community!
Arthur Zhao
Human Resources Co-Director
Hello, World! My name is Arthur Zhao, and I live in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. I serve as the Human Resources Director for the White Rock/Surrey District. I'm an avid music enthusiast—my current top three artists are AC/DC, Chopin, and the Oscar Peterson Trio (quite the spectrum, I know!).
My musical journey began when my mom first introduced me to the piano, and ever since then, I’ve fallen in love with everything music-related. I hold an ABRSM Grade 8 in Piano and a TRINITY Grade 8 in Clarinet. During the pandemic, I taught myself how to play the guitar, and I also play a few other instruments, including bass, drums, and ukulele.
I joined Chords of Care because I’m passionate about giving back to the community—whether through performing or teaching. Music is one of my greatest passions, and being able to bring joy to others through it is truly the best feeling ever. I also joined to connect with new friends, collaborate with other talented musicians, and simply have a great time.
Outside of music, I love traveling the world, hanging out with friends, and playing a wide range of sports (swimming, tennis, golf, badminton, ultimate frisbee—just to name a few). I'm also deeply interested in entrepreneurship, running fundraising campaigns, and investing in the stock market.
I'm excited for the performances and events ahead with Chords of Care, and I encourage everyone to reach out and get involved. I look forward to meeting more amazing people and sharing incredible experiences through the power of music!
Ashley Yuan
Arts/Design Co-Director
Hi! My name is Ashley Yuan (or Ash) and I'm an Arts and Design director for the Chords of Care Surrey/White Rock branch. I began music a little later than most - at 9 years old, and started playing piano. I've had a rough journey, going from hating music to wanting to pursue it but not being able to catch up. Somehow, when I was 13, I had a revelation, and began composing and playing alto saxophone! I joined Chords of Care because I've always wanted to utilize my musical abilities to spread joy, and COC aligned with that. It's my dream for people to be inspired by my music. Outside of playing and composing, you can find me editing videos, making Instagram promo posts (for my school's student council), or binge-watching shows! I look forward to watching everyone grow as both musicians and people.
Sophia Segismundo
Arts/Design Co-Director
Yo! My name is Sophia Segismundo, and I’m one of the Arts and Designs Directors for Chords of Care Surrey/White Rock. I’ve been passionate about music for as long as I’ve been alive (16 years now!). I got into playing bass guitar/ double bass for about 4 years now, though, I do play the Ukelele and a bit of Ocarina every now and then when I get the time to practice them! I don’t have a specific favourite genre of music to listen to, but enjoy a bit of everything. Music hasn’t been my only passion, as I’m also a sport-driven person. it’s been about 4.5 years of ultimate frisbee, and I currently play on my high school team, as well as being an assistant coach at my elementary school. I’ve played on Vortex, a nationals club team, and made a bunch of good memories with my team. Schedule is tough, but I’ll always have time for both. Aside from those, I enjoy being outside, working out, eating, and being around animals. I’m excited to be part of Chords of Care, since I’ll be able to return the favour of sharing the joy of music to others in the community people in my life showed me. I believe that music can and should be enjoyed by all, there will always be at least one form, or type of music that will resonate with each and every one of us.
Richard Gu
Arts/Design Co-Director
Hi, I am Richard Gu, a sophomore jazz tenor saxophonist at semiahmoo secondary and I also play trumpet and soprano. I joined chords of care to put my Skills in art to good use and to convey The meaning of music through this organization.
