Hermione So, a 14-year-old harpist from Vancouver, Canada, began her musical journey on the piano but discovered her love for the harp at age 7 after watching a live performance.
She has completed RCM exams with strong results, including Level 2 Harp (First Class Honours with Distinction, Celebration of Excellence Award for British Columbia & Yukon), Level 6 Harp (Honours), Level 8 Theory (First Class Honours with Distinction), as well as Level 9 and Level 10 Harmony.
In 2019, she won 1st Place at the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival. In 2021, she received the Outstanding Junior Harp Performance Award from VAYA International Festivals. She continued her success with 1st Place wins at the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival in 2022 and 2023.
From 2022 to 2024, she volunteered with the Youth Musician & Artist Association, performing regularly at senior homes.
In 2024, she won 3rd Place at the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival and 1st Place at the Canadian Music Festival. In 2025, she won 1st Place at the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival with the Red Skirt Ensemble and 2nd Place at the Vancouver International Music Festival.
In 2026, Hermione performed Girl in the Red Skirt as a concerto with the Richmond Orchestra & Chorus and performs with VAMIS Orchestra. She also became a platinum medalist for the US-Canadian International Music Competition and won the Music Streaming Award.
Outside of music, Hermione enjoys reading, playing badminton, and spending time with family and friends.
Watch Hermione Ching Yan So perform Girl in the Red Skirt by Lori Pappajohn on the harp for the 2026 Spring Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.