Meet Yu Hin Bryan Chan | Singer, Actor, Producer, and Voice Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yu Hin Bryan Chan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yu Hin Bryan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I fell in love with Musical Theatre when I was an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, but that came with a twist.

I’ve always despised the hugely extroverted style of Musical Theatre. All throughout high school, friends would perfectly recite the lyrics to “Hamilton” or “Les Miserable” and I would cringe at my core and tell them to stop. Hence, even after I switched my majors from Electrical Engineering to Voice Performance, I never dabbled in anything but classical and operatic singing.

My girlfriend at the time, was the complete opposite. She was a musical theatre fanatic, and couldn’t wait to audition for the Theatre School’s production of In The Heights. As a proud member of the Latiné community, she made it her mission to perform the role of Nina one day, and she wanted me to audition with her for this production.

Initially, I refused profusely. I have never heard of In The Heights, I despised Musical Theatre, I didn’t even know what song I would sing as an audition piece. However, she convinced me to audition for the role of Benny since he and Nina had smoochy scenes. I reluctantly obliged. I step into the audition room knowing close to nothing about the show, or musical theatre really.

After a long audition and callback process, by the miracle of the gods they cast me as Benny. My stage intimacy hopes with my girlfriend, however, were dashed when she instead got the role of Vanessa who has zero interaction with Benny.

What I didn’t expect from this tiny risk I have taken with Musical Theatre completely altered my life trajectory. In the span of 2 years after the show, I did 8 musical theatre and theatre productions all throughout the university, I worked an entire summer with a professional theatre company performing and understudying ensemble and lead characters, and I decided to pivot from classical singing to musical theatre completely, later on pursuing a MFA in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy.

The lesson to be learned by me over and over throughout my career is that open-mindedness is the catalyst of opportunity. If you are open-minded enough to challenge your own assumptions, you just might find something valuable for you to pursue.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is a blend of different genres and influences, reflecting my diverse background and experiences. As a cross-genre singer, actor, voice teacher, and producer, I strive to bring a unique perspective to everything I do. What sets me apart is my relentless pursuit of creativity and innovation—I’m always looking for new ways to connect past experiences with current projects, making my work fresh and exciting.

One of the things I’m most proud of is my role in “The King And I,” where my performance as Lun Tha received praise for its emotional depth and authenticity. Reviews described my performance as “gorgeous” and “sweetly moving,” which was incredibly rewarding. I’m also excited about my production work, like “Late Night Vibing: Asian R&B,” which showcased the rich diversity of Asian R&B music and provided a platform for underrepresented voices.

Getting to where I am today has not been easy. The journey has been filled with challenges, from dealing with rejection and uncertainty to balancing multiple roles and responsibilities. One major challenge was breaking into the U.S. theater scene as an international artist. To overcome this, I focused on honing my craft, seeking out opportunities, and building a network of supportive peers and mentors.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are invaluable. Resilience is key—there will be setbacks, but persistence pays off. Embrace vulnerability, as it’s through opening up and sharing your true self that you can connect deeply with your audience. Lastly, never stop learning and growing. Each experience, whether it’s a success or a failure, offers a chance to improve and evolve as an artist.

What I want the world to know about me and my story is that I believe in the power of hard work and creativity. I aim to inspire and uplift through my art, teaching, and productions. My journey is a testament to the idea that with dedication and passion, you can achieve your dreams and make a meaningful impact.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my work and my story. I’m excited about the future and all the possibilities that lie ahead.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
New York City has so many different facets of experiences. The metropolitan jungle, the bustling theatre scene, the serenity of Central Park, the myriad museums around the city and the endless food expeditions, just to name a few. Here are a few things I would personally do if my best friend visits New York City:

– Afternoon picnic at Central Park/Riverside Park
– Walking The High Line and enjoying food at the Chelsea Market
– Sunset Statue of Liberty views via the Staten Island Ferry
– Food tour at Chinatown (remember to bring cash!)
– Watch a Broadway show near Times Square
– Experience soul food uptown in Harlem
– Experience the epitome of art at MoMA or the Met Museum
– Weekend getaway uptown at the Met Cloisters
– All-You-Can-Eat KBBQ at KTown

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a special shoutout to Caroline Helton, Kevin Wilson, and Jared Trudeau. Each voice teacher has completely changed how I look at singing, performing, and teaching. Their unique way of understanding the mechanics of singing molded the way I try to cultivate my students’ singing abilities and my own singing too.

I would also like to thank my parents who supported me through 3 career changes during college. Without their openness to my ideas, I would’ve still been an electrical engineer. I love you Yan and Harris!

Lastly, I would like to thank my girlfriend Emily for being the emotional rock that held my life together all throughout my graduate school and post-graduate years. I love you Emily!

Website: https://www.chanyuhinbryan.com

Instagram: bryanchanuwu

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bryanchanyuhin

Image Credits
Yan Yu
Sy Chounchasit
Sarah Jack
Indy Ghostlight