Balance in the scales: Aristo Sham Ching-tao on school and music

At 17, Aristo Sham Ching-tao's life is all about being balanced. Having scored 14 "A*"s in his GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams in Britain this summer, the prize-winning pianist is studying mathematics, politics, French and English literature for his AS levels at Harrow School. But what about music?

"I decided on this combination because these subjects make use of different parts of my brain," says Sham, who won the Minnesota International e-Piano Junior Competition in 2011. He was also awarded the Schubert Prize and the Variations Prize in the same competition.

"That was why I didn't study music for my GCSE. I wanted to make better use of my time and learn other things."

It's a balanced approach to learning, and there is always time to make music.

"I love it there primarily because of its proximity to Central London," Sham says of his school, which last year organised about 100 concerts. "There are also lots of opportunities for me to perform there - and in London." The teenager says he loves performing in front of an audience. "I always play better when someone is in the room ... I like communicating with an audience."