Leadership and Team

Steven Zhao President       member since 2023

Steven is a senior attending Trabuco Hills High School. 

Steven has been playing piano for over a decade, and his journey has taken him from quiet practice rooms to world-renowned stages like Carnegie Hall and Juilliard. A gold medalist and first-prize winner in numerous state and international piano competitions, he pours passion and purpose into every performance, whether dazzling an audience on stage or sharing music with seniors in his community. Through BUI, Steven organizes bi-weekly music-sharing sessions and art activities, as well as volunteer initiatives supporting global causes.

Outside of music and volunteering, Steven is a varsity lacrosse player and a passionate visual artist. He looks forward to giving his all to uplift his community with heart, talent, and teamwork. 

"Don't give people the hate that they deserve, give them the love that you have.”– K.O. Manuel

Edward Zhang   Director of Events   member since 2021

Edward is a Junior at Northwood High School. 

Edward began piano lessons at the age of five, and through years of consistent effort and discipline. he has achieved the MTAC-certified Advanced level in piano. Since 2021, he has been a dedicated volunteer performer at senior centers, sharing his music to bringing love, joy and comfort to others. Beyond the piano bench, Edward enjoys exploring computer graphics, diving into creative adventures on Roblox and unwinding with entertaining videos. A true foodie at heart, he never turns down a slice of pizza or a plate of lasagna. When he needs a lighthearted escape, he turns to his favorite comic series, Garfield by Jim Davis. 

An eternal optimist, Edward views every challenge as an opportunity for growth. He firmly believes that no matter how difficult a problem may be, there's always a way to break it down, and find a solution.

"Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem solving.”                       – Michael J. Gelb

Angela Qu  

Director of Art Activities               member since 2024

Angela is a Junior at Fairmont Preparatory Academy. 

From a very young age, Angela has found deep joy and expression through music and art. Whether sketching in the margins of her notebooks or humming melodies while walking home from school, creativity has been always natural language.  

As she grew older, her curiosity blossomed into commitment. She truly believes art can bring people closer through mutual understanding, that it creates space for empathy, connection, and shared emotion across cultures and experiences. 

“The future belongs to those who believe in the power of their dreams.”     - Eleanor Roosevelt

Katie Chen   

Director of Social Media and Communication  member since 2023

Katie is an 8th-grade student attending Orchard Hills Middle School.

Katie plays piano and violin, and she likes to use her talents to serve others. Whether performing at community events or sharing music with those in need, she hopes to bring joy and warmth to the people around her. Beyond music, Katie enjoys a will-rounded life with reading, playing tennis, drawing, and spending meaningful time with her family and friends. 

Katie believes that had work and perseverance lead to success - that if you always try your best, success will come, sooner or later. With that mindset, she continues to grow as both a musician and a person, always striving to make a positive difference.

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”                                                                                           -  Thomas Jefferson, former President of the US

Ocean Yang  

Director of Outreach and Service         member since 2024

Ocean is an 8th-grade student attending Princeton Day School in Princeton, New Jersey.

Ocean has been playing piano for over 8 years. She's thrilled to use her music to bring joy and connection to others, especially through performances at senior centers. As an active and enthusiastic participant of the organization, Ocean jumps into every event and volunteer opportunity. When she is not performing and volunteering, she is a proud K-pop fan who finds joy and energy in her favorite artists. She also enjoys playing volleyball, diving into a good book, and spending time with her friends. 

Though she's not yet 16, Ocean is eagerly waiting for the opportunity to volunteer directly at orphanages and animal shelters. She believes that kindness doesn't need to be loud to be powerful-sometimes, it's the quiet, consistent acts of care that make the biggest difference. 

"You don't always have to feel ready. 

Just show up, do your best. and let the effort speak for itself."                              - Ella Gross

Chenchen Zhou     member since 2023

Chenchen is a Senior at Fusion Academy.

Chenchen had classical flute training for many years. She loves to bring her flute to different senior centers perform for elders. Besides the flute, Chenchen likes drawing and reading books, and she believes that art and music are ways for people to release their stress.

Chenchen loves horror movies and books written by Agatha Christie. Understanding and following through crime books would help her get to know humanity better while also helping her understand herself more. 

"If one sticks too rigidly to one's principles, one would hardly see anybody”   – Agatha Christie

David Fang             member since 2024

David is a freshman student at The Bishop's School.

David is a passionate and well—rounded individual who finds joy in creativity, sports, and connection. He loves music, playing the piano, tennis, soccer, and spending time with friends.  Sushi is his favorite food, and he's always up for discovering new sushi spots or sharing a meal with others.  

David enjoys giving back to the community and often volunteers at senior centers. He believes that everything begins with a dream—but achieving it requires hard work, and the good times will follow.

"We need people who dream impossible things, who maybe fail, sometimes succeed, but in any case, who have that ambition.”                                                                    – Emmanuel Macron        

Ray Shen                member since 2023

Ray is a junior student at University High School.

Ray discovered his love for music at just six years old. In 2024, after years of dedication, he proudly achieved the MTAC Certificate of Merit at the Advanced Level. Since 2018, Ray has volunteered with BUI, performing at senior centers. These performances are some of his most meaningful moments, sharing music that once felt like magic to him, and seeing it light up someone’s day, fills him with purpose. He believes in the power of music to heal, to uplift, and to bring people together. He hopes to inspire others to see the world a little more positively and brightly through each piece he plays. 

Besides playing the piano, Ray also picked up the Alto Saxophone as his second instrument. He wants to experience and play more pieces from different music genres to further deepen his musical knowledge. Through both performance and learning, Ray is committed to using music as a way to uplift others and connect with his community. 

"Keep your face to the sunshine, and you cannot see shadow.”                           — Helen Keller          

Helaine Zhao (2018-2024)     Harvard University

"Every person can make a difference and every person should try."   - John F. Kennedy

David Sun  (2019-2025) UC Riverside

"What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good!"                 – Aristotle

Joshua Tian  (2020-2024)      Duke University

"Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

                                                                                                         - John F. Kennedy 

Michael Wang      (2022-2024)

“Logic will get you from point A to point B.

 Imagination and hard work will take you everywhere else.”            - Albert Einstein

Amy Jong  (2020-2023)     University of Southern California 

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched

—   they must be felt with the heart.”                                                -  Helen Keller

Hannah Zhao (2018-2022)     Northwestern University 

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good."           – John Steinbeck 

Rachel Tian (2018-2021)     UC Berkeley 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift. 

That’s why it's called the present.”                          -  Bil Keane 

Adalina Ma (2019-2021)     UC San Diego

“If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more.

If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.”     

-  Oprah Winfrey