Former Subway Violinist from Bayside Receives Queens College Scholarship

A former Bayside resident who performed with the Manhattan Symphonie last summer and held his first performance at Lincoln Center earlier this fall was granted a full scholarship to Queens College.

Yut Chia, 20, who attended Bayside High School, has had a whirlwind year, first performing with the 50-piece Manhattan Symphonie at Gramercy Park’s The Players and then playing at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall with the World Peace Orchestra in September.

The violin player, who was born in Colombia, has also been working on an album after having formed a modern string quintet band.

Chia, who now lives in College Point, said he has now been given a scholarship to Queens College for showing entrepreneurship skills with his music.

He has also been given a dorm room until next September and can renew if he becomes a resident adviser.

“This is really a dream come true,” he said. “To be honest, I’ve always lived in single rooms with my mother and little brother. I’ve never in my whole entire life had my own room. On top of that, the music department has given me a $500 stipend.”

Chia said his family had recently moved to Florida and he stayed here alone, but had difficulty supporting himself.

The Queens College scholarship has resolved his financial difficulties, he said.

“I am seriously the happiest person on earth,” he said. “I will continue to work hard and my goal is to make everyone at Queens College proud and become a hip hop/pop/modern violinist and play and tour around the world”

Recently, Yut and the Hot Four played a concert for the New York Times at the Times Center Stage, opening for Cyndi Lauper and playing a rendition of the pop singer’s hit, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Chia first gained attention last year while playing the city’s subway stations, including Times Square, Union Square and Lexington/59th Street.

During one of his underground performances, he played with Jamaica’s Damien Escobar, formerly of Nuttin’ But Stringz. The duo ended up recording a music video together.

“I am very appreciative for all this amazing stuff that is happening to me,” he said. “But I will never forget my roots from playing in the subway.”

For more information on Chia’s band, check out the group’s Facebook page.