For St Paul’s Collegiate student Jessica Chanwai music is a hobby – even though she gets up at 5.30am to practice.
Born in New Zealand, violinist Jessica comes from a musical family. Mum Tammy Wong is a pianist, dad Giles Chanwai plays cello, younger sister Victoria (12) plays piano and violin while little brother Matthew, 7 also plays cello.
Jessica, 16, recently won the senior instrumental class of the Hamilton Branch New Zealand Institute of Registered Music Teachers music scholarship and was awarded $150. She played two pieces, accompanied by Dr Greg Neil on piano, Chaccone by Vitalli and It Ain’t Necessarily So by Gershwin in the event held at St Andrews Church in August.
The win adds to a growing list of musical achievements this year which have included winning the 18-years and under class of the Hamilton Strings Competition as a member of the Ripon Piano Quartet with fellow members John Penyas, Daniel Ng and Simon Miles.
Tutored by Suzuki-method violin teacher Trudi Miles, Jessica also gained a highlycommended at the Regional Chamber Music Secondary School contest as a member of the Ripon quartet and was awarded the Johan Endert Cup for outstanding musicianship as part of a duet performance with sister Victoria.
In 2012, aged 15, Jessica gained her Associate of the Trinity College of London diploma in violin performance. Standard of performance required at this level is equivalent to the performance component of a firstyear undergraduate at tertiary level.
Ms Chanwai enjoys chemistry and plans a career in medicine.
