ABOUT SHIRLEY CHOI

Educated in the United Kingdom and the United States, Shirley is an internationally acclaimed composer and talented musician. In 2005, she established Happy Diamond Music Studio. In 2023, Shirley 's original musical composition Heroine, won the world championship at the Film Music Contest in the orchestral music category, making her the first Asian to win this prestigious competition.

Shirley's musical journey began at the tender age of four when she started learning the piano. Her exceptional talent led her to win numerous prestigious music awards in England, the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong. She obtained a diploma in piano from the Royal School of Music in England and also earned degrees from the University of San Diego and Pepperdine University. To further enrich her musical expertise, Shirley pursued studies in orchestration, film scoring, and music production at the University of California, Los Angeles, under the guidance of Emmy and Grammy Award-winning film composers through its extension program. Aside from her proficiency in piano, Shirley is also an accomplished bassist. She co-founded an all-girls band called SO WHAT, whose debut single "War Monkey" dominated the Hong Kong Indie Music Chart for five consecutive weeks. In July 2008, Shirley captivated audiences with her original composition "Under the Blue Sky" during a performance on Chinese Central Television. Furthermore, in November 2008, she achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first bassist to perform at the China Indoor Olympic Stadium.

Shirley's song "風的期待" (Hope) achieved third place in the CASH (Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong) songwriting competition in 2009. In a momentous performance in 2011, she showcased her symphonic masterpiece "Happy Diamond" alongside the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the esteemed Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The same year, "Happy Diamond" garnered recognition as one of the top five songs in the Golden Sail Music Awards' Serious Music category. Shirley's composition "Voor Robert" scored a remarkable victory in 2012 when it was crowned the Best "Bandstand" Music in a composition competition held in London, England. Shirley's exceptional talent extended beyond traditional music as well. Her game music composition titled "Now or Never" earned her the Silver Medal at the Global Music Awards in 2019. Furthermore, in 2021, Shirley's incredible skills were acknowledged when she secured the Third Prize in the Original Score and Music category at the International Music Competition held in Vienna, Austria. In 2021, Shirley ‘s composition "Green Warriors" claimed the second prize at the Film Music Contest (FMC) specifically dedicated to Original Music for films, TVs, and Video Games. It is worth noting that this competition attracted composers from over 40 countries. Shirley proudly stands as the only female composer of Chinese origin to achieve such recognition in the FMC competition.

Shirley serves as the Music Director for Hong Kong Enharmonica, a charitable organization established in 2019 with the aim of promoting inclusiveness. In her role, Shirley took charge of curating a series of 10 concerts from July 2022 to June 2023 as part of the Hong Kong Palace Museum SHOWTIME series, organized by Hong Kong Enharmonica. This initiative showcased the rich musical talents and diversity of PWD performers. In August 2022, Shirley received a prestigious commission to arrange the song "Together for Good '' for TENCENT and TVB. This heartfelt composition was recorded by renowned Hong Kong artists Gigi Yim and Aska Cheung, further emphasizing the message of unity and collaboration. Shirley's influence in the music industry extends beyond her compositions. She also contributes her expertise through a music column for the esteemed South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Through this platform, Shirley has had the opportunity to interview prominent individuals, including influential politicians, business executives, judges, and international artists. Her insightful interviews provide a unique perspective on the intersection of music and various aspects of society.

In 2005, Shirley established Happy Diamond Music Studio, a multimedia production company located in both Malibu, California, and Hong Kong. Happy Diamond specializes in the creation of educational content tailored for young children, with a particular emphasis on climate change and biodiversity—subjects that deeply resonate with Shirley's personal commitment to environmentalism. Every piece of content developed by the studio, be it apps, ebooks, audiobooks, or printed books, serves the purpose of educating children about the environment, fostering their empathy towards nature, and motivating them to actively participate in conservation efforts. Additionally, these educational resources promote essential values such as friendship, courage, faith, equality, and love, making them valuable tools for both teachers and parents. The distribution of Happy Diamond's products and media extends worldwide through popular platforms such as the Google Play Store, iOS App Store, public and private libraries, and various digital platforms including Spotify, Audible, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

The guiding principle that underpins Happy Diamond Music Studio is the firm belief that youth entertainment can and should be a harmonious blend of enjoyment and education. And what better medium exists to captivate and enlighten children than the enchanting power of music?