Yu Ying Chan ’18 (China) was accepted to all five schools she applied to—University of Edinburgh, Kingston University London, University for the Creative Arts, University of Brighton, and University of the Arts London—and the promising young artist has decided to study Illustration at the University of Edinburgh. She is grateful to the TASIS college counselors for helping her achieve such outstanding results. “They helped me a lot with my personal statement and guided me through every step of the process,” she said.
“In the art studio she has been a consistently gentle and graceful presence, displaying an extraordinary capacity for patience unequaled by her peers.”
– Fine Arts Department Chair Martyn Dukes”
Fluent in Chinese and English, Yu Ying finished her three years at TASIS with a 3.88 GPA, scored a 4 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus exam, captured a perfect 5 on both the Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio and the Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio AP exams, and excelled in the Higher-Level Visual Arts International Baccalaureate (IB) course. Her dedication to and artistry in a number of disciplines earned her The Excellence in Art Award at the Class of 2018’s Commencement Ceremony.
“I have taught this year's recipient for three years and had the privilege of watching her grow and thrive,” said Fine Arts Department Chair Martyn Dukes when he presented the award. “In the art studio she has been a consistently gentle and graceful presence, displaying an extraordinary capacity for patience unequaled by her peers. As an accomplished young artist her artwork is quite simply exceptional, and it therefore comes as no surprise to learn that she has obtained a place to study Illustration in Edinburgh next September.”
Because Yu Ying took advantage of the wide range of artistic disciplines offered at TASIS—including photography, architecture, drawing, and painting—she will be able to skip the foundation year that is often required for art students in the United Kingdom. But to describe her as simply a visual artist would not do justice to the full scope of her talents, for she is also an excellent cello player and an accomplished pianist with an impressive performance record that belies her young age. In her senior year alone, she performed as a piano soloist at the “Music Without Borders: From Bach to Bernstein” concert at Lugano’s beautiful Palazzo dei Congressi Concert Hall and at the TASIS Spring Arts Festival Concert, where she was backed by the renowned Opera Viva Orchestra.
Yu Ying credits Mr. Dukes, Photography Teacher Kim Nelson, Music Director Samantha Forrest, and Piano Teacher Gloria De Piante Vicin for helping her attain her goals both as a visual and performing artist. “I had Mr. Dukes for all three years and was exposed to so many things in his classes, and I was really inspired by Ms. Nelson’s knowledge of modern photographers and artists and greatly appreciated the support she gave me throughout my senior year,” she said. “I also learned so much from Ms. Gloria over the past three years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity she and Ms. Forrest gave me to work with a professional orchestra. Ms. Forrest was also my first cello teacher and put so much effort into organizing our ensemble class and musical performances.”
Aside from her inspiring teachers, what will Yu Ying miss most about TASIS? “I think it’s going to be the [Ferit Şahenk] Arts Center,” she said. “Not counting my dorm, I spent more time in that building than anywhere else on campus.”