CYCS STUDENT AMBASSADORS
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CYCS Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/CYCSUS
California Youth Chinese Symphony (CYCS), is a non-profit organization serving the Bay Area and nation-wide. CMA performs high-quality, diversified traditional Chinese music and creatively integrates East-West music using both Chinese and Western instruments.
California Youth Chinese Symphony (CYCS), is a non-profit organization serving the Bay Area and nation-wide. CMA performs high-quality, diversified traditional Chinese music and creatively integrates East-West music using both Chinese and Western instruments.
CMA performs traditional ensembles and solos in public community cultural events and celebrations that are free of charge and welcome to all. Over the past few years, it has become an unique ensemble as the new American-born generation embraces the Chinese musical heritage. Our mission is to promote musical diversity and enrich the cultural lives of our communities by exposing traditional Chinese music to audiences in the area. Led by many distinguished and highly-acclaimed Chinese music professionals passionate about developing rising young musicians, CYCS offers free instrument classes during the summer and low-cost private lessons throughout the rest of the year.
青年國樂特使團 (CMA) 是加州青少年國樂團（ CYCS）旗下的一個非營利性組織, 主要服務於舊金山灣區，並透過不同的交流活動讓音樂傳遞到全美國和世界各地。音樂特使團的目的在於宣揚高品質的中國音樂，它還巧妙地結合了東西方的樂器，讓廣大的愛樂群眾能夠體驗到音樂無國際之美。
通過在許多社區文化和慶祝活動，特使團不斷的介紹中國音樂和傳統樂器讓大眾認識。在過去的一年，已經有越來越多年輕的愛樂者加入我們，擁抱中國的音樂遺產。我們的使命是通過介紹中國傳統音樂和樂器，促進音樂的多樣性和豐富社區的文化生活。在專業熱情的中國音樂家帶領下，期望能薪火相傳，蘊育出新一代年輕音樂家。
What We Do:
青年國樂特使團 (CMA) 是加州青少年國樂團（ CYCS）旗下的一個非營利性組織, 主要服務於舊金山灣區，並透過不同的交流活動讓音樂傳遞到全美國和世界各地。音樂特使團的目的在於宣揚高品質的中國音樂，它還巧妙地結合了東西方的樂器，讓廣大的愛樂群眾能夠體驗到音樂無國際之美。
通過在許多社區文化和慶祝活動，特使團不斷的介紹中國音樂和傳統樂器讓大眾認識。在過去的一年，已經有越來越多年輕的愛樂者加入我們，擁抱中國的音樂遺產。我們的使命是通過介紹中國傳統音樂和樂器，促進音樂的多樣性和豐富社區的文化生活。在專業熱情的中國音樂家帶領下，期望能薪火相傳，蘊育出新一代年輕音樂家。
What We Do:
- Community event performances
- Ensembles, solos, and instrument presentations
- Places we have performed: companies (Apple, Facebook, Yahoo…), elementary schools, senior centers, libraries, cultural festivals
- Erhu
- Gaohu
- Yangqin
- Pipa
- Zhongruan
- Guzheng
- Dizi
- Sheng
- Cello
CURRENT AMBASSADORS
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Yiwen Gong, Co-President, is a senior at Mission San Jose High School. She has been playing the Dizi for 8 years and has passed all levels of the CCOM Exam. Yiwen has won several medals and has placed in international music competitions, such as being a USIMC finalist and Song Ting Long Yin Gold medalist. Outside of CYCS, you can probably find her at Kung Fu, attending competitions and performances with her team or coaching younger students at her Kung Fu studio. She also loves to hike, cook, and spend time with friends.
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Tiana Yu, Co-President, is a junior at Mountain View High School. She has been playing Pipa for 8-9 years and is currently on her last level of the CCOM exam. Outside of playing the Pipa, Tiana has developed a passion for dance, doing ballet and Chinese folk dance, participating in competitions, and joining her dance team at her high school
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Sophie, Activities Coordinator, is a sophomore at Archbishop Mitty High School. She’s been playing percussion with CYCS for seven years, winning second place at the Canadian International Music Competition. Outside of music, she likes to play soccer, read, and bake.
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Jiayue Gu, Graphic Design is an 8th grader at Sierramont Middle School. She has been playing the dizi for 6 years, and this is her 3rd year at CYCS. In her free time, she enjoys eating or listening to music.
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Celine Hairr, Graphic Design, is a 7th grader at Miller Middle School. Outside of playing the Zhongruan, Celine plays the piano, and sometimes composes songs for herself to sing while playing the ukulele. She does dance, for example traditional Chinese folk dance and contemporary dance. She also loves running!
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Gabby Jiabao Zhou is currently an 8th grader at Challenger Middle School. This is her 8th year playing the Pipa and is on the 8th level of the CCOM exam. She has won 2nd place at the 2024 USIMC competition. Outside of school, Gabby enjoys drawing and taekwondo.
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Angel Wang is in8th grade at the Girls middle school (GMS). This is her 3rd year playing erhu at CYCS. She is currently at the 10th level of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Outside of CYCS, you will probably find her eating, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball or basketball, sleeping, or figuring out a new cute outfit for herself! She hopes she can be happy at any time when she is playing the erhu.
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Emily
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Luochuan Bella Wang is in the 6th-grade at Kennedy Middle School. She has been playing Guzheng for 5 years. She has extensive performance experience in community and school events, including multicultural festivals and programs at local libraries and charities. She has earned top honors in international and regional competitions, including First Place in the CIMC-MOMA Canadian International Music Competition 2025 and First Place in the TCAAT Guzheng Competition in both 2024 and 2023. She is committed to continuing her musical growth and sharing traditional Chinese music with the community and broader audiences.
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Coco Shum is currently a 7th grader at Miller Middle school. She has been playing the Zhongruan for about 3 years and is on the CCOM exam level 4. Outside of CYCS, Coco likes swimming, eating and reading.
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Yunji Zuo is currently a sophomore at University Preparatory Academy in San Jose. As a member of the CYCS senior orchestra group, he is happy to become a CYCS ambassador, work with other people that play chinese instruments and bring chinese culture to the community. He enjoys listening to piano covers of songs and creating his own covers. Outside of this, he is passionate about swimming and swims in the Senior Elite level in Milpitas Aquatic Club.
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Helen
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Jason plays yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer. He uses rubber-tipped bamboo sticks to strike sets of steel strings. He also plays erhu and piano outside of orchestra. In addition to music, Jason enjoys trainspotting.
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FORMER AMBASSADORS
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Leyi Lu, 2024, graduated from Dublin High School. She has been playing the pipa for twelve years and passed all levels of the CCOM Chinese Instrument Standard Grade Examination in 2021. She won a gold medal or first place in around ten different competitions, both national and international. She also enjoys teaching the pipa to younger kids at the CYCS Summer Program. Besides pipa, Leyi plays the violin and participated in several distinguished string orchestras, such as the CODA Honor Orchestra. Since 2020, she has been organizing and conducting her own string ensemble that performs in senior communities and fundraises for the Oakland Zoo. Leyi is passionate about music and loves to spread music throughout the community to promote musical diversity and to make a positive impact.
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Brian Wang, 2024, graduated from Wilcox High School. He joined the CYCS Ambassadors in 2015, and has been a core member ever since. Brian has performed solos in the CYCS Annual Concert and at the 2022 China Night Gala, and has won a gold medal 2022 Canada International Chinese Music Competition and the United States International Music Competition. Through CYCS Ambassadors' performances, he hopes to spread Chinese music and culture to new audiences throughout the Bay Area and bring festivity and joy to his community.
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Ryan Rulkens, 2024, graduated from Archbishop Mitty High School. He has been playing the pipa for 12 years, while also playing the clarinet, piano, and guitar. He also leads the physics club at his school and is an editor for the newspaper. In his free time, Ryan enjoys studying typology and getting boba with friends.
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Sandee Liu, 2024, graduated from Irvington High School. She plays erhu, gaohu, and banhu, playing erhu for over 8 years. Besides these instruments, she also plays violin, viola, liuqin, and zhongruan. Outside of music, Sandee does color guard in her school's team.
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Brian Qian, 2024, graduated from San Jose State University. He has been playing the erhu for 6 years. His other hobbies include archery and electronics.
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Sarah Lu-Liang, 2024, graduated from Gunn High School. She joined CYCS in second grade and passed all levels of the CCOM exam. She also won a silver medal in the Huain Cup competition. In her free time, Sarah enjoys visiting cafe’s, listening to music, and doing archery.
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Evelyn Zhang, 2024, graduated from Palo Alto High School, joined CYCS in second grade and recently passed level 10 of the CCOM exam for the pipa. Besides pipa, she is an editor for her school’s social activism magazine, is involved in a local congressional campaign, and competes with her school’s speech and debate team.
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Kaitlyn Chou, 2022, graduated from Piedmont Hills High School, joined CYCS on the erhu in fourth grade and tested level 10 of the CCOM exam. She also has been playing the violin in school for eight years. Outside of playing instruments, she enjoys reading and watching movies.
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Hsinpin Wen, 2022, graduated from Lynbrook High School. She has been playing Erhu for 5 years, and passed level 9 of the CCOM.
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Serena Chu, 2022, graduated from Dublin High School, has been playing the Guzheng for 11 years. She joined CYCS in 2017 and has passed the level 10 CCOM exam. Outside of orchestra, she enjoys painting and martial art”.
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Elaine Liu, 2022, graduated from Saratoga High School. She joined CYCS as a dizi player in 2010 at the age of 6. She has passed the CCOM Level 10 Exam with an outstanding score. She has competed at the International Huain Cup Competition and won two gold medals with honor. In her free time, Elaine also enjoys to sing, draw, and listen to Chinese music.
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Sunny Liu, 2022, graduated from Irvington High School. He play the cello in CYCS Ambassadors group. In addition to the Ambassadors group, he is also a member of the CYCS Senior Orchestra and my school’s orchestra. Besides cello, Sunny also play Erhu and Violin. In his free time, he like to play tennis.
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Andie Liu, 2021, graduated from Monta Vista High School. She has been playing the erhu for almost 7 years. She passed CCOM Exam Level 9 with distinction and just tested for Level 10. Besides erhu, she is a managing editor for her school’s news magazine, runs for the track team, and likes to read and draw in her free time.
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Angie Liu, 2021, has been playing the pipa for 6 years. She has passed Level 8 of the CCOM pipa exam.
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David Fu Ziwei Smith, 2021, graduated from Stanford Online High School. Ziwei joined CYCS in fourth grade in 2012 to play zhongruan in the Senior Orchestra, and joined the Music Ambassadors in middle school.
Ziwei also plays the dizi, suona, liuqin and piano. Ziwei has completed leval 10 in dizi, level 9 in zhongruan and level 5 in suona, having passed the China Conservatory of Music Exams for these instruments. Ziwei has won a silver medal followed by a gold medal in dizi, and a bronze medal in zhongruan. Ziwei hopes to continue playing his music instruments in college. |
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William Chu, 2021, graduated from Mission San Jose High School. He has played Chinese percussion for 10 years and has played a few years of Western percussion.
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Jeffrey Xiong, 2020, graduated from Cupertino High School, started playing erhu in the 3rd grade, and has been playing with CYCS since seventh grade. He is studying for CCOM Level 10 for erhu. Outside of erhu, he plays piano and has passed the Panel Examination with honor.
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Anderson Wang, 2020, joined CYCS in 2015 and plays the erhu, gaohu, zhonghu, banhu and jinghu. Anderson has passed the California Conservatory of Music Test Level 10 with Honors for his instruments. He won the gold medal in 2015 and 2016 Huain Cup. He has a Spotify playlist of Chinese music and also played the piano for 10 years. He really enjoys movie soundtracks with Chinese music.
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Lucas Lam, 2019, plays the guzheng, or the Chinese zither.
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Bill Lei, 2019, plays Erhu. He has been playing the erhu since the first grade, and has passed level 10 of the CCOM exam. He has won two silver medals and one gold medal in the Huain Cup Competition.
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Angelina Xu, 2019, graduated from Mission San Jose High School. She has been playing the guzheng, also known as the Chinese zither, for 8 years. Her hobbies include playing water polo. singing, creative writing, and reading.
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Isabella Wang, 2019, graduated from Valley Christian High School who loves music and arts. She joined CYCS in 6th grade as a pipa player.
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Vivian Cheng, 2018, graduated from Lynbrook High, plays the erhu and gaohu. She joined CYCS in 2013, and has passed level 10 with distinction in the CCOM exam for erhu. She has won the gold medal in the 2016 Huain Cup. She has also been playing the piano for 10 years.
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Kimberley Tsang, 2018, plays the Yangqin, also known as the “Chinese Dulcimer.” She has been with the California Youth Chinese Symphony since 2008 and has passed her CCOM level 10 exam. Not only does she enjoy playing the yangqin, she also spends her time competing in contemporary and hip-hop dance
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Ziyi Smith, 2018, has played four years of the Chinese trumpet, suona, seven years of piano, and a year of percussion. She has passed level 6 in Suona for the CCOM Music Exam, and also level 6 in piano.
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Arnold Zhou, 2019, graduated from Homestead High School. He has been playing the zhongruan for 9 years and has passed level 8 of the CCOM Exams with distinction.
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