B.C.-born piano prodigy donates prize money to various charities
A 12-year-old piano prodigy is proving her generosity is as great as her talent.
Audrey Sung has earned thousands of dollars from various prizes and instead of keeping it all to herself, she's decided to donate the money to inspire the next generation of musicians.
Sung, who was born in Vancouver and now lives in Hong Kong, is back in her hometown to donate her earnings.
"Piano is a major aspect of my life and it changed me a lot," Sung told CTV News. "I hope that the fund helps children learn more about music and gives more opportunities to them so they can master their musical skills."
She started playing piano at six years old, and just three years later, she was invited to play at the prestigious Carnegie Hall.
"I was nervous," she said. "I was really grateful I got a chance to play there."
Sung's played all around the world and over the last few years, she's earned $30,000 worth of prizes.
She's splitting the money equally three ways with Pacific Rim International Music & Education Society, the Royal Conservatory and I'm HIPpy, which helps kids living with hip disorders.
"I was amazed. This is almost unheard of to think of a 12-year-old, especially someone (with) Audrey's talent, so generous in donating this prize money that she's earned," said Stephen Chatman, a board member of PRIME Society.
Chatman said something like this is so rare, they haven't quite decided how to spend the money but it will likely go to supporting young musicians with their lessons or travel costs associated with competitions.
"I always thought that giving to people is better than receiving," Sung said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.