When teenagers aren’t in school, they often like socializing with friends, visiting a mall, competing in sports or playing video games. Crofton House grade 10 student Audrey Sung, on the other hand, is planning a major music festival in Vancouver next summer.
Sung, 15, is the director of the Pacific Rim Music (PRM) North America Organizing Committee, which will stage 2026 PRM Vancouver Music Week. This top-tier classical music event will integrate live performances with the final round of the PRM International Piano Competition and academic exchanges.
“For me, it really grew from seeing two gaps—one, a need for classical musical platforms,” Sung tells Pancouver over Zoom.
She points out that as a teenage pianist, she would like more classical musicians under the age of 18 to have access to performance stages. She feels that this will invigorate these young, talented players’ passion for music.
The second gap, in her view, is “a scholarly benchmark with real academic guidance” for young musicians.
The Pacific Rim International Music & Education Society showcases composers and pianists from China, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the U.S. in multiple rounds of competitions. Performers who advance through the preliminary rounds will compete at 2026 PRM Vancouver Music Week.
“There is a lot to take away from the PRM itself because you can sit in on masterclasses to learn how to shape pieces,” Sung says. “But also, you’re able to watch these performers compete throughout these rounds.”
Watch the PRM trailer (above).
Music opens doors for Sung
Sung was joined on the Zoom call by Steinway Artist Edward Han Jiang, former director of PRM North America Organizing Committee. Jiang, a UBC School of Music graduate, has been a professional musician for 30 years.
“Usually, we will just have the grand final round in Vancouver, in which the performers will play with the orchestra and be judged by the…jury,” Jiang tells Pancouver. “But this time, we would like to create a more integrated event, which is called the PRM Vancouver Music Week.”
Jiang also happens to be Sung’s first piano teacher. For her part, the young pianist recognizes that music has opened many doors. And this has enabled her to connect with talented people from around the world.
In addition, she appreciates the emotional benefits that come from being able to play the piano.
“Schoolwork gets pretty heavy and it piles up,” Sung acknowledges. “So music does act kind of like stress relief.”
The PRM organizing committee director emphasizes that having people of different nationalities sharing a love of music will build cross-cultural bonds in Vancouver.
“We want to boost Vancouver’s multicultural connections as well,” Sung adds. “Next year, we’ll have families—and also teenage musicians—from six different countries here.”
For more information about PRM Vancouver Music Week, visit the society’s website. Follow Pancouver on Instagram @PancouverMedia and on Bluesky @pancouver.
