CBC Music: 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30, 2025 edition

Congratulations to VSO School of Music student Valerie Lin who made the CBC Music “30 under 30” list. Valerie is a percussion student of Aaron McDonald (Faculty and VSO Principal Timpanist.)

Read the original article here.

Meet the young musicians burning up Canada’s classical scene

By: Robert Rowat, Isaac Page

It’s a summer tradition at CBC Music: our annual classical “30 under 30” list, celebrating the achievements of Canada’s emerging classical musicians.

They’re winning big prizes, graduating from top music schools, writing bold new works, making exciting debuts — and we think they’re amazing.

Valerie Lin, percussionist

Age: 14
From: Burnaby, B.C.

“I would like more people to know that percussion isn’t just about rhythms and loud drums,” says Valerie Lin. “It can be beautiful and melodic, like the marimba.” She’ll do her part to fulfil that mission next season, when she plays Emmanuel Séjourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) — the result of her first prize at the VSO School of Music’s Future of Excellence Competition. Lin draws her inspiration from Taiwanese badminton star Tai Tzu-ying. “She seems to enjoy every match she plays,” Lin explains. “It reminds me that when you love what you do, it becomes easier to face challenges” — a mindset that likely helped Lin train the puppy she adopted last November. “Life with a tail-wagging buddy is wonderful but training her is a lot,” she admits. Lin attended a music camp in Taiwan in early July — “a chance for me to meet other young percussionists and improve my skills,” she says, adding, “music doesn’t need a language. We listen and feel it in our own way.”

‘Life is a mystery box. Open it with hope and not fear.’ — Valerie Lin (Raku)