We were lucky to catch up with Kyan Cheung recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kyan, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
From a young age, I always had an understanding that music held more meaning than just harmonious sounds coming from instruments. I was able to convince myself that regardless of its initial intention, a piece of music was able to convey a story. As I grew up and surrounded myself with different genres of music, those stories started to become more prevalent and held stronger meanings than they did before. In a way, I believe my empathy was born out of the stories that I heard from those different pieces of music. I felt closely connected to the intense emotions, regardless of how joyful or despondent they were, and I felt that I was able to establish a better foundation in which to understand those who were telling the stories. I quickly realized that, through music, my love for people and their dreams and interests rose tremendously, giving me the motivation to want to become more empathetic.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a composer of Contemporary and Classical music, specializing in Percussion literature and Songwriting/Musical Theatre Composition from Rochester, NY. In addition, I’m also an Audio Engineer who aims to engineer musical excerpts that tell meaningful stories. I’m currently a third-year student at Nazareth University and am planning on going into the world of Classical Orchestral Administration upon graduating in 2026.
A big aspect of my writing and engineering comes from my want to help others portray their stories and feelings in the most accurate way possible. I strive to craft experiences that not only resonate on a deep emotional level but also foster connection—both within ourselves and with others. Through the power of music and sound, I aim to inspire, uplift, and spark connections, building bridges and relationships between all. In my previous work, I have worked with multiple ensembles around the Greater Rochester Area, such as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Nazareth University Percussion and Saxophone Ensembles, helping to put on productions that are memorable and foster a sense of community.
As of right now, I’m currently in the process of composing two different works that aim to help bring awareness to topics that I believe are not talked about enough. My composition “Firebomb: A War-Torn Rhapsody” aims to speak on the actions taken during World War 2 by the United States against Japan, specifically regarding the Firebombing of Tokyo and the worldly damage that its impact still has to this day. In addition, I’m writing a One-Act Musical titled “Homophony” that aims to provide commentary on the idea of legacy and how life-changing relationships can be formed through unorthodox ways.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that showcasing care in your relationships goes a long way. Every day, I make sure to check in on the people that I care about. We’re instinctively social beings who yearn to find those with similar goals to us, even if they aren’t on the same path as ours. I don’t think that I would have gotten nearly as far as I have as both an artist and a person if I hadn’t shown others how much I care about them. Even if your relationships are purely professional or personal right now, it’s important to keep up that care as it could always turn into something more in the future.
Be kind! It goes a lot farther in the music industry than it’s given credit for. From my experience, nobody wants to work with someone who is difficult or problematic and will normally choose to work with someone again if their interactions have been positive. Growing up, I’ve always heard the phrase, “People may not always remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel”, and I could not agree more with that statement than right now. Besides, we don’t always know what’s going on in someone’s life; something as small as a simple “Hello” with a smile could be the highlight of someone’s dark day.
Don’t change for anybody. There are plenty of times in life that you’re going to feel like you need to change the way that you are, the way that you act, or the way that you speak to please other people. Don’t do it. Being yourself is incredibly valuable and adds to the way that people will remember you. Having genuine relationships with people who like you for who you are will bring you the most satisfaction in life. It’s perfectly fine to want to change for your personal growth, and I suggest going down that path if you think that it’ll help, but you need to make sure that you’re doing it because you want to, not through somebody’s influence.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I owe a lot of my success to those who believe in me when I’m at my lowest. My family has always been there for me when I’ve needed a shoulder to lean on. That feeling of a safety net is so crucially important when you’re in a rut, and I can’t stress how much I appreciate the background support when I’m trying to grow personally. My mentors Bill Tiberio and Spencer King have provided beneficial support in my continued academic and emotional growth, allowing me to flourish in my pursuit of telling stories that can be beneficial to those who need them the most, including myself. While I believe that those specific people have helped me develop the essential skills needed to succeed, I also want to emphasize that if it weren’t for the help of all of my friends, both past and present, I don’t believe that I would be where I am now. Maintaining those relationships, especially those formed through a shared passion for music, has been more beneficial than anything else in my life, and I am forever grateful for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kyancheungmusic.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyan-cheung/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KyanCheungMusic
Image Credits
Selena Ortiz
Alan Tirré – Samba Fotography
Brian Steblen
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
