Sun's Journey at Harrow Bangkok

For nearly seven years, Sun (B13) has called Harrow Bangkok his home, balancing life as a full boarder, a dedicated Music Scholar, and an academic achiever. Recently, he took centre stage alongside a professional orchestra to perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto Op. 16 in A minor—a breathtaking recital marking the culmination of his musical journey at Harrow Bangkok.

With awards in mathematics and accolades from prestigious piano competitions, Sun’s passion for music has led him to solo performances at major school events, including the 25th-anniversary celebration. Now, with offers from top conservatories in Thailand, the UK, and the US, he reflects on his love for music, the impact of boarding life, and the moments that shaped him as a musician and leader.

Read his full interview below as he shares insights into his concerto performance, musical journey, and future aspirations!

 

Why did you choose this particular concerto to perform?

Sun - I have always had a liking for Edward Grieg pieces, so when I was informed that the school was going to organize a concerto concert,  I decided to go for the Grieg Piano Concerto Op. 16 in A minor which is a piece I've listened to countless times. The Norwegian folk and expressive melody is what makes this concerto fresh and unique which stands out for me. Also, the concerto explores ranges of emotions, from joy and richness to melancholy and soul-searching feelings. Additionally, the orchestral writing for this concerto is absolutely phenomenal as it is extremely colourful and vibrant which creates a pleasant layer of music needed to support the soloist.

 

What was the most challenging part of preparing for your concerto and what advice would you give to other students who dream of performing a concerto?

Sun - I find​ that the most challenging part of preparing the concerto is when I did my rehearsals with the orchestra. Communication with the conductor is an absolute must and you must be very clear about how to play specific parts of the music, how much time or pause you will take, how fast this part you want the music to be. These kinds of notes are very essential in the real performance. It is extremely challenging to get all these details correct and perfect in such a small amount of time that I had with the orchestra. How I imagined the orchestra playing was different in my head when I practised by myself compared to that of the real thing. 

So my advice for students who dream of performing a concerto would be to listen to lots of recordings of the concerto that you will be performing. This is very important as it will shape how you will interpret the music. Take notes of what you like and dislike in each recording and apply it to your practice. You should be very detailed with what you want to do with the concerto, where and how much you want to slow down or where you would want to take a bit of rest. To reiterate, communication with the conductor and the orchestra is very important and you should be clear so that all parties understand each other in the real concert.

 

What has been the most memorable part of your music journey at Harrow Bangkok?

Sun - I have had so many memorable moments with my music journey at Harrow but my most memorable one would probably be the Gala concert in 2023 where I was invited to be one of the two soloist to perform two of the Studio Ghibli selections on the piano alongside Akira in front of nearly a thousand people. It was very special to be a part of the bigger school community coming together to celebrate the 25th years of Harrow Bangkok and also getting to dress up as one of my favourite anime characters, Totoro.

 

Tell us about your most legendary boarding moment. 

Sun - My most legendary boarding moment would probably be my participation in the recent Boarding's got talent 2025 where I was awarded the winner. I was in a boy band group dancing with Leo, Three and Aw-Sa. I was doing my piano solo piece, Chopin Scherzo No.3 in C# minor, which I won. I also play the keyboard for the band as the last act of the show. When I was performing the Chopin piece, I was collected and calm throughout the whole 9 minutes of the piece. I showed serious expressions and brought out the music as I intended it to be. I was able to show my passion and love for music to the whole boarding community which I think is really cool and most certainly legendary to   have been crowned the winner of this year Boarding's got talent.

 

How has Boarding Life transformed you beyond the classroom?

Sun - Well, I've been boarding for nearly 7 years now and I believe that boarding life has  tremendously transformed me into a better person. Boarding made me more punctual and more organised with my time, it also allows me to meet with new people. Boarding is like another  family to me, it is a place where I get to do many activities like cooking, going on trips, dodgeball and many other things which brought me closer to others in the community. This year, I was given a privilege of being a boarding prefect and I use these opportunities to interact and help the younger students as well as helping the boarding leadership team organise a family event for the whole boarding village which gained me an experience in leadership.

 

What are your plans after Harrow Bangkok? What are you most excited about in your next chapter?

Sun - So my plans after Harrow Bangkok would be to go to a music conservatory. As of right now, I am still deciding whether to pursue my passion in the UK or the US. The most exciting prospect of my next chapter would probably be to study and work with renowned and world-class musicians and also getting opportunities to perform in concerts in famous performance venues.

 

If you could collaborate with any musician in the world, who would it be and why?

Sun - If I could collaborate with any musician in the world, it would be Joe Hisaishi. I have been a fan of his composition since I was a kid. To be able to perform or work with him would be a dream come true as I really admired how he creates all these extraordinary and touching music to tell a story. 

 

What’s one piece of music that always inspires you?

Sun - The one piece of music that always inspires me would be Rachmaninoff's piano concerto no.2 in C minor.

 

How do you balance intense music practice with other school commitments? 

Sun - In boarding, we have specific time allocations to do homework called 'prep time', this is the time where I complete my homework and any leftover assignments and worksheets. In school, I use my time in the morning before school starts to practise the piano. At lunch, I would go to the music room with my friends and enjoy the band's music making. Afterschool, I would go to my activities or spend my free time practising by myself or sometimes practising with my band. I usually use my time back at boarding to do my revisions, homework and exercising. After our supposed 'prep time', I sometimes go to the Sports Hall to play badminton with my friends and sometimes I go for a run. Then I use all the remaining time after the exercise to either socialise with others in boarding or just to some more music practice.