ZOE LAIYI CLARKE

is 16 years old and has been playing the violin since she was 4. Laiyi is the current concertmaster of the Canadian Sinfonietta Youth Orchestra (CSYO) and a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has been a featured soloist with the York Chamber Ensemble (with whom she is often a member), as well as the CSYO.

Laiyi has won numerous awards including first place in the Unionville Music Competition, the Kiwanis Music Festival, the North York Music Festival and received the “Honourable Mention” medal at the Ontario (OMFA) Provincials in 2024. She has also just completed her violin ARCT.

Laiyi is a Gr. 10 student at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute where she is in the French Immersion Program. In addition to music, Laiyi is also passionate about drama and acted in three school plays last year, one of which won an award at the National Theatre School Regional Competition. Laiyi is also responsible for having composed the music for her school play “Logical Fallacies,” 2025.

Laiyi studies violin with both her grandfather, Tak Ng Lai and mother Joyce Lai. Currently Laiyi is also being coached by TSO concertmaster, Jonathan Crow.