BIOGRAPHY

Jonathan Weng is a pianist, chamber musician, composer and global health advocate from Vancouver, Canada. A member of the Boston Univeersity Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), he has performed solo and chamber works across North America, with a repertoire spanning classical and contemporary styles.

Through his organization,Music  Bridge Foundation Canada (MBFC), Jonathan merges artistry with advocacy , organizing summer music camps and outreach performances at senior/nursing homes, and raising funds for healthcare causes through charity concerts.

A dedicated and humble individual, he began learning piano at four, violin at six, and composing his own music at eight. Music has since become an inseparable part of his life. His journey extends beyond solo piano performances; he collaborates with orchestras, participates in chamber music ensembles, and creates original works performed regionally and internationally. Jonathan also contributes to community music events, charity concerts, and youth-focused performances, sharing his passion with audiences of all ages.  He is also an active member of the STA Music Band since 2022, performing contemporary music, and serves as the pianist for his school’s events and choir. www.musicbridgefoundationcanada.org

From an early age, Jonathan has competed in provincially, national, and international competitions, earning numerous awards and scholarships. In 2015 and 2016, he received multiple First-Place awards, as well as the Most Promising Pianist distinction and scholarships at the SPG Festival. In 2017, he won First Place at the Crescendo International Music Competition and was invited to perform at the Winners’ Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York. In 2018, Jonathan placed second at the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, earning a second invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall. That same year, he was invited to play his original piano composition at the Royal Albert Hall in London (Details on the videos page). In 2017, he also traveled to Paris, France, to participate in an international piano competition, competing with top young pianists from around the world, and became a finalist. In 2019, he returned to the same competition, won Second Place, performed at the Winners’ Recital, and was interviewed by local television.  Also in 2019, Jonathan competed in the Asian Cup International Music Competition and won second place, as well as placing third in the Rising Stars Grand Prix International Online Music Competition in Berlin.  Since the age of nine, Jonathan has been honored to perform at winners’ concerts across different parts of the world, including renowned venues such as the Gläserner Saal of the Wiener Musikverein (Golden Hall, Vienna), Cité de la Musique – Amphithéâtre Philharmonie de Paris, Perugia (Italy), Carnegie Hall , New York, Royal Albert Hall,London and Taipei, Taiwan. Through these experiences, he has developed resilience, courage, discipline, perseverance, and a strong work ethic that continue to guide him in every aspect of life.  Jonathan is also a composer and has received recognition for his works in several competitions. After winning First Place in the Canadian Music Competition's "Young Composer’s Competition," his symphonic piece A Distant Journey was performed at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver. Another piece, The Cold Winter Days, was awarded a Second Degree Diploma at the Golden Key International Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, an international competition with participants from around the world. More recently, one of his piano compositions, Reverie, also received recognition from the Golden Key International Music Festival.  In addition to solo performances, Jonathan won several concerto competitions, which led to opportunities to perform and collaborate with top orchestras, including the Orchestra of MusicFest Perugia in Italy (his orchestral debut in 2018), the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra,  the Vanier Park Symphony Orchestra  and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. 

In 2018, Jonathan performed at a TELUS fundraising concert supporting Indigenous communities and local healthcare initiatives, donating his entire performance fee. The same year in 2019, he won first place at the VSO Music Festival for Piano and was invited to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre for two consecutive seasons during the COVID-19 pandemic in Carnival of Our Animals, a cross-cultural symphonic work inspired by Indigenous traditions. The performances were broadcast live online. Furthermore, Jonathan regularly participates in and organizes charity concerts, making it his mission to support communities through fundraising efforts with music.  At the age of 12, in 2020, Jonathan earned his ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance with First Class Honours and Distinction under the guidance of his teacher, Professor Sergei Saratovsky—one of the highest academic achievements awarded by the Royal Conservatory of Music. That same year, he gave a successful solo recital at Pyatt Hall, at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music performing his ARCT repertoire and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with his piano teacher, Sergei Saratovsky.  After earning the ARCT Diploma, he began tackling more virtuosic repertoire. Since then, he has maintained a consistent performance schedule, appearing in competitions, winners’ concerts, and charity events, approaching each performance with care, precision, and expressive depth. 

 Since 2016, when he was eight, Jonathan has been a dedicated violinist. He has been a member of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra (VAMSO) for over eight years, which presents four public, ticketed concerts each year.  (Details can be found on the Music Achievements page) 

Jonathan has been a pre-college student at the Vancouver Academy of Music’s Young Artist Collegiate Program (YACP) since 2022, where he receives intensive training and participates in weekly credited masterclasses with leading pianists from across North America. His teachers include Ian Parker, Professor David Vandereyk, and Professor Sergei Saratovsky, and he has also attended masterclasses in Canada, the U.S., and Italy with renowned pianists such as Ilana Vered, Arthur Greene, Corey Hamm, and Max Levinson. As a YACP student, Jonathan maintains a consistent yearly performance schedule, participating in multiple public concerts and recitals, including charity events and winners’ concerts. He has also competed in the Canadian  International Music Competition in 2023 and earned top honors. These regular performances and competitions have strengthened his stage presence, musical expression, and confidence, allowing him to approach each performance with precision and artistry.  Furthermore,  in recent years, he won first place at the Steinway Piano Competition. He also received a Platinum Award in the Euro Elite International Music Competition,  

He continues to achieve at the highest level. In 2025, Jonathan was accepted  into the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) Young Artists Piano Program, a prestigious three-week summer program for advanced pianists. Jonathan is not only a highly skilled pianist and composer but also actively integrates music with community service. 

 Beyond his solo performances, Jonathan has shown exceptional leadership as the Founder and President of Music Bridge Foundation Canada (MBFC), directing 120+ high school musicians in 80+ events, including senior home performances, major charity concerts, and educational outreach programs. He has coordinated 10+ team leaders, 50+ volunteers, and multiple music clubs, while building partnerships with 5+ community organizations, supporting initiatives such as the Canadian Cancer Society and Vancouver General Hospital, and reaching over 1,200 community members through music, education, and philanthropy. 

After humanitarian volunteering in Kenya and completing an internship in Peru, Jonathan founded the Youth Advocates for Global Health Association (YAGHA), a youth-led nonprofit that promotes global health awareness through webinars with healthcare professionals. At age 15, he used his own savings to launch a meal program and later an oral health campaign in Kenya, returning annually to expand these initiatives.  He obtained his Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) in Canada, and became a Nationally Certified Emergency Medical Technician  (NREMT) in the United States and applying his medical training during fieldwork in Kenya and Peru. As the Canadian Youth Ambassador for UNESCO-Africa, he teaches life-saving skills and leads sustainable development projects to advance healthcare equity. Jonathan also trains youth as a certified BLS instructor at St. John Ambulance. https://yagha.org/      

In addition to music, Jonathan is passionate about biomedical science and global health. In 2024, he developed a provisional biomedical invention: the Modular Solar-Powered Telemedicine Device, a portable, renewable-energy system designed for remote areas. It includes core medical modules such as an ECG, pulse oximeter, and blood pressure monitor. The device was tested with over 60 volunteers, and the collected data were analyzed using averages, percentages, and correlations, demonstrating that it is accurate, stable, and effective in challenging conditions. The device aims to improve affordable emergency care in underserved regions, combining Jonathan’s passion for innovation with his commitment to equity. His structured thinking, shaped by years of piano and composition training, strengthens his approach to scientific research.

Jonathan has published research papers in international journals on public health-related topics, and authored three books, Understanding Cancer Biology,  Preparing for Emergencies: Life-Saving Techniques for All Ages, and  Global Health Perspectives : Interviews with Leading Healthcare Professionals, to promote public awareness and life-saving knowledge. 100% of the proceeds from Preparing for Emergencies are donated to Doctors Without Borders. Furthermore, Jonathan enjoys creative writing and is  BCTELA - Provincial Writing Contest Winner and has had his work published in Voices Visible 2024 edition 

 (Details can be found on the Publications page)  https://jonathan-weng.com/publications        

He founded and serves as Secretary-General of the North Vancouver Model United Nations and has also led his school’s Model UN Club since 2023, supporting students in developing public speaking, diplomacy, and global awareness. He has contributed to several Vancouver Model UN conferences in leadership roles. Additionally, he is president of his school's  STEM club, he mentors younger students, leading innovative science projects.  www.nvmun.org

In addition to music and leadership, Jonathan is a Taekwondo black belt with over 10 years of training. He volunteers once a week as an instructor and has earned medals in provincial and international competitions, demonstrating discipline, perseverance. (Details can be found on the Sports page)  www.jonathan-weng.com/sports

In 2023, Jonathan was appointed the Canadian Youth Ambassador for UCESCO-Africa. Over the past three years, he and a team of young leaders have raised over $28,300 through online crowdfunding to build and renovate schools in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, supporting education in underserved communities. Jonathan has received numerous honors, including the Outstanding Leadership Award from UCESCO in 2025, the “Give Back” Civic Youth Award from the City of North Vancouver, and a nomination for the Outstanding Youth Philanthropist Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals on National Philanthropy Day in 2025. He was also recognized by the Canadian Cancer Society for his exceptional fundraising efforts and ongoing support for people affected by cancer across Canada. 

Jonathan’s journey reflects his belief that music, science, and service are interconnected, each enriching the other and shaping a more compassionate, equitable world.