Born in Suzhou, China, 17-year-old Farrah Chuqi Fang is currently a 12th grade student at The Hun School of Princeton, NJ. She started singing at 7 years old with teacher Ms. Shi in Suzhou, China. She immigrated to Vancouver, Canada with her family in August 2015. There, she started learning Chinese Folk songs with Ruoxi Liu, a Chinese-Canadian singer. During that time, she also studied with Sarah Templeton at Vancouver Academy of Music and Sarah Tatto. She currently studies with Ildikó Rozs in Princeton, New Jersey. She has performed at the Chan Centre at UBC, the Michael J Fox Theatre and Vancouver Playhouse, as well as at Carnegie Hall. She was the first prize winner of the New York Golden Classical Music Awards and the grand prize winner of the Apex International Music Competition.
Farrah is also a celebrated author whom I have had the pleasure to mentor. She completed her most recent novel, “The Little Miracle” in 2023. Farrah’s novel is set in San Francisco’s Chinatown after the earthquake of 1906 devastated those living there. Fourteen-year-old Min (her main character) and her family had to flee their beloved Chinatown. The daughter of an herbal shop owner, Min struggles to find herself as tragedy and sickness engulf her community. When cases of the Bubonic Plague complicate their lives further, tensions between the segregated Caucasian and Chinese camps escalate. Min, the ‘Little Healer’ is caught between two worlds. Is her medicine powerful enough to remedy not just the sickness in their bodies, but the sickness in their hearts? Farrah’s novel celebrates how art can be a powerful tool in overcoming oppression and setbacks.
Farrah joins us at the Arts Soiree this Wednesday and will sing, “Do Not Go My Love” by Richard Hageman. If you would like to attend, please e-mail info@youthleadarts.com
Photo of Farrah courtesy of Tamara Gillon Photography