ALYSSA CHONG CHIN YEE

I’m Alyssa, a Malaysian who grew up in Cambodia after moving there at the age of nine. I first picked up the violin at six and, like many children, I hated it. But Cambodia changed my perspective. With little to do, music became my greatest source of joy and eventually a lifelong passion. Performances and opportunities for Western classical music were rare, so I nourished my ambition through online recordings, watching each one as though I were in a concert hall. Music has been with me since I was three, when I began piano lessons, but by fourteen, I knew it would be my lifelong pursuit. That determination guided my journey to Sunway, where I learned to manage my time with discipline, planning each semester meticulously to balance assignments, rehearsals, and performances.

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Receiving the Sunway Tun Dr. Hasmah Mohd Ali Scholarship for Creative Arts and Music was more than recognition—it was a turning point. It gave me the confidence and opportunities to grow as both a musician and a student. I was able to perform at countless Sunway events and concerts, from convocations to showcases, gaining valuable exposure and experience. Some highlights of my journey include being awarded Most Promising Violinist at the Euroasia String Competition 2023, where I learned to refine my performance under pressure, and participating in side-by-side coaching with the Concordia Quartet in 2024, which opened my eyes to how ensembles work together and the responsibilities of each musician. My proudest achievement was my Final Year Project: a 60-minute solo recital. It was the most demanding performance I had ever prepared for, and although it wasn’t perfect, it became a milestone that reminded me of how far I had come.

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Most importantly, this scholarship also gave me the chance to give back through my music. I had the privilege of performing in community-focused events such as the China-ASEAN Music Festival 2025, the Melodies for Relief Charity Concert 2024—a free-entry performance where all donations went toward Thailand’s flood recovery—and the Campus with a Conscience (CWAC) 2023 at Sunway University, in the presence of our Guest of Honour, the Raja Muda of Selangor. Along with projects like Rondofest (2023–2025), the Broadway & Beyond concert with Tutan Entertainment, and contemporary performances at Jao Tim and BoboKL, my journey has been filled with growth, resilience, and gratitude.

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Lastly, my advice to all aspiring musicians trying to balance academics with passion is this: manage your time and stick to your priorities. Let go of habits that don’t serve your goals. Most importantly, write down your plan. As Shang-Chi’s grandmother says in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: “If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.”