A Tribute To Jiarui "Aaron" Dai

On the afternoon of May 19, 2026, we received devastating news that junior Symphony violinist Jiarui “Aaron” Dai had passed away following an unexpected medical incident. Not only was he an exceptional student, but Aaron was always the pride and joy of the Arcadia Orchestras community and never failed to brighten the days of others. He deepened his connection with the orchestra family by serving as Directors’ Assistant on Orchestra Council, a job he truly loved and enjoyed. Aaron was a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, and a great friend to all. His love and passion for music continue to shine through even if he is physically not here with us, and will continue to be remembered and celebrated. 

This article is a collection of notes written by Aaron’s friends, family, and teachers in honor of his passing. To submit a note to Aaron, please use this link.

Fly High, Aaron Dai. The Arcadia Orchestras community holds you in their hearts forever.

“During my middle school graduation, I told Aaron to practice everyday. I told him if he did so he would easily get into Concert Orchestra, and then Symphony. After that I didn't see him for a whole year because we were a year apart, and when I finally saw him, he was unrecognizable, all grown up. He became so tall and healthy. He was so happy when he told me he got into Concert Orchestra. I was beyond proud of him. He would ask me to help him with his auditions and pieces, and the few times I helped him, he listened so intently, but I just wasn't able to help him more. I just wish I could've taught him more, and I regret so deeply not being able to free up more time to help him.” 

- Anonymous

“Although I didn't know you well, I am very grateful for the way you brought smiles to the school. Your loss is truly heartbreaking for our community.”

- Premier bassist freshman Nathan Chang

“I love you and I miss you eternally, Aaron. Fly high and soar above the clouds. Take care of yourself in Heaven.”

- Symphony violinist senior Charlene Pau

“Seeing Aaron every morning, he brought a very comforting and positive energy to the orchestra. Aaron also has an unbelievable sense of humor, and could make anyone crack up. He worked so, so, hard everyday and strived to better the lives of others. I sincerely hope he can rest well.”

- Symphony violinist senior Alycia Liu

“A-a-ron Dai lit up every single room he walked into. I’m very fortunate to have met him because of OC, and he was the sweetest yet silliest boy I’ve ever met. I'm going to miss seeing you in the orchestra room. ❤️”

- String bassist sophomore Fernanda Gomez-Rocha

“Aaron at some point was my everything. He was the first person I'd see each day at school and also the last. While Aaron got sick often, the only thing he ever infected me with was his joy and smiles that stretched from one end of the milky way to the other and was brighter than all the stars in between. With Aaron I could always be myself and feel safe knowing that we both cared for each other so much. We bonded over liking a specific "animal autistically" like how he loved birds and I loved dinosaurs, which scientifically are really one in the same. We always talked about how we were so similar in many aspects like how we were never gonna get into college or find love because we refuse to ask anyone, that our favorite color was green or that we both were "dark" according to Aaron (which I really disagree that I'm as brown as he says I am), and our dislike for oily foods. Aaron liked to say that he was the straight and unstyled me and while I think we had many differences I always admired how much we still saw ourselves in one another. A lot of people use the word twin as a sort of slang but for me and Aaron the word twin was only ever used by its textbook definition.”

- Junior Takeya Teng

“It's been some time. I miss talking to you and your beautiful smile. I miss replying to your notes, those 12 a.m. conversations when both of us would wonder why the other one was still awake, and I miss those life updates. You always made me proud with all of your accomplishments and always did amazing things. Keep a list of those accomplishments so when we see each other one day, you can update me and continue to make me proud. I really enjoyed being your stand partner junior year as we would tell each other about life, crack jokes, and have lots of laughs. From being stand partners, we were able to continue our friendship. You never failed to make me smile and you were always able to brighten up my days. During my lowest moments, you were always there encouraging me, telling me to keep going. Thank you for being one of my biggest cheerleaders who always believed in me. Even though we communicated not very often after I graduated high school, we still had meaningful conversations. You looked forward to going to college, having fun, and getting drunk (I never got to be your 21+ alcohol liaison, just kidding, maybe not kidding). In honor of that, I will make sure to have fun in college, no matter how difficult gen chem lab and ochem are. Also, you made it into SMW! I remember telling you all about my SMW application journey and how I didn't get in, but how I still encouraged you to apply.You did apply and got in! Every time we saw each other last school year and whenever I came back for concerts, we were both very excited to see each other and just yap. Next concert, I will come back looking forward to seeing you, but deep down, I know I won't be seeing you. However, that does not mean that you won't be present in spirit (Please send a sign of your presence). A lot of times, you would notice and come up to me first, which meant a lot. I am so happy to have been able to bond with you and have so many conversations and that you were not scared of me (I hope not). That meant so much to me because my goal was to be someone approachable to underclassmen and be someone they could talk to or ask advice/encouragement from. Please practice and save the seat next to you so that when we are stand partners again, we can run through Moorside one more time and play some video game music (does Undertale ring a bell?) and continue our last conversation. I love you so much. Take care and I'll see you again one day. ‘This is not goodbye, this is till we meet again.’” 

- Arcadia Orchestras Alumna Juliana Wong, Class of 2025

“I’ve had the distinct pleasure of being Aaron’s orchestra teacher the last 3 years, as well as his conductor for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra. As a high school orchestra teacher, I have a special opportunity to see most of my students from the first day of high school to their last and be a part of their growth over the years. Aaron came in with a lot going for him already. He was a skilled violinist, starting off in Concert Orchestra, the highest orchestra a freshman could be in. He was quiet, respectful, responsible…just a really nice kid. I could tell he was intelligent and well-liked by his peers and loved making music with them. I could trust that he would do the right thing, and sometimes that’s all you really want as a teacher, but as I got to know him better, I started to see the quirky, fun parts of his personality come out. 

In orchestra, we often have activities that involve dressing up, like themed days at music camp, Winter and Pops Concerts, and the Orchestra Benefit Dinner. This year, our theme was Broadway, and I had dressed as Elphaba with green paint all over my face, which was a lot, but he was the only one in the room that matched and surpassed the amount of color I had with all the blue on his face and hands as he dressed as the genie from Aladdin.  He loved any excuse to dress up and would go all out, not just for himself but because he saw that it brought other people joy. He hung out in the orchestra room after school on most days, and sometimes I’d just walk by and he’d just sit there and let his friends put makeup on his face cuz he was a good sport and just let them do whatever cuz it made them happy. 

This year, Aaron served as the Director’s Assistant on Orchestra Council, so I got to interact with him outside the classroom setting on a regular basis. He loved to just be around and help out with whatever was necessary. Never complained, at least not to me. I could trust that whatever random things I asked him to do, like research and compare prices of file cabinets, he’d be able to do. He loved serving the orchestra program, to help his classmates, to make things better for others, to help his teachers… One of his responsibilities was to keep the calendars updated in the classroom and in my office. On the afternoon before he passed, he was in my office, and he said he was going to miss updating the calendar next year. I said, “You know you can still run for Director's Assistant again, and you wouldn’t have to miss it,” and his whole face lit up. For some reason he thought he wasn’t allowed to run for the same position again, but once he heard he might have the chance to do his job again, he was so happy. I’ll always remember that look on his face. He had such a bright smile. Not just that day, but every day I saw him. I will miss that smile, but every time I hear that Lady Gaga/Bruno Mars song we performed for him at the Pops Concert, I’ll think of him. “Aaron Dai, With A Smile.”

- Arcadia Orchestras Director Pin Chen

“I've had orchestra with him in school for 2 years now and PYSO with him for about 5 years now. I promised him I would do chamber with him till senior year dressing up in the dumbest costumes. Every Sunday in PYSO he would make the dumbest faces to me across the stage to me in the cello section, we'd be laughing for the whole 3 hour rehearsal from just looking at each other all the time. Back when I still didn't know exactly how to make friends and talk to new people he was the most open person I've ever met, he connected his feelings to mine and talked to me about anything to make sure I didn't feel left out. Practicing for our dumb chamber performances are the best memories I have of orchestra, we'd leave our music behind to make something fun and memory making to get chosen for OBD. Aaron always checked in on me when I was acting different because of all sorts of emotions I felt. Aaron will always leave a scar in me that will never fix itself because my music activities now feel empty without him.” 

- Symphony cellist junior Jeremiah Chun

“I have known Aaron for  the past 2 years, however it was  only really this year that I got pretty close with him. Aaron and I both served on Orchestra Council together and during that time that I knew him, Aaron was the kindest, happiest, smartest person I ever knew, and I just feel so glad and  blessed to have been able to call him my friend. Whether it was building our makeshift basketball hoop in the backroom and dunking on each other, to giving me advice on my food truck project for my English Honors class, Aaron has always been there for me and never failed to brighten my day. Aaron was one of the most lighthearted and funniest people I ever met and always managed to crack the funniest jokes at the worst times. I will cherish and never forget all the memories we made together, your contagious smile, and the fact that you would always find a way to win at pickup backroom basketball. Fly high Aaron, I will miss you forever.”

- Concert cellist sophomore Jonathan Leung

“I did not know Aaron personally, but as a member of our Orchestra family, his loss is deeply felt by our school community. My heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones and friends as they navigate this difficult time.”

- Premier violist sophomore Mattheo Santacruz

“I have known Aaron Dai since elementary school, where we went to Hugo Reid together and properly met him in 6th grade at Foothills Middle School. I wasn’t too close with him at the time, but when the pandemic hit and we had to do online classes, that was how I became closer with him. I didn’t have much friends at the time because the pandemic sort of brought who I was close with away from me and made everyone just start drifting apart, until I met Aaron. I remember meeting him through a random breakout room class assignment we had for either English or Math and from that point on, we would nonstop text on Google Hangouts for hours on end about random things or anything. He would send stupid things or say silly things, or just stuff to bother me and so would I. And he also understood me on a deeper level that I wouldn’t normally show around anyone else. We would both have these moments of just a wave of sadness and all we both would do was comfort each other in any way we could. If I was feeling down, he would send me things to cheer me up or make me feel better and I would do the same for him no matter what. I would honestly blame the pandemic for making us feel this way, feeling disheartened, hopeless, and unsure of what were to happen next and how we would be able to adapt to it. But he was there for me in so many ways, and he was patient, as he was for everyone else that knew his sweet and loving soul. He was a friend to everyone that knew him and I can see that by how much he wholeheartedly touched the many souls that knew him as well. I am entirely grateful that I had gotten to meet someone as humble and caring as he was, and I pray for nothing but the Dai Family, his friends, and to anyone else that may have a similar story to mine. Rest easy sweet Aaron, and thank you for everything, including being my friend. Fly high🕊️.”

- Junior Olivia Fernandez

“Aaron was a friend. I know we weren't the closest, but I enjoyed every moment we were able to spend together. I remember talking with him and passing the time with him nearly every week during our break times during the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra rehearsals, and that led us to interact more during school as well. I loved the funny jokes he had made, and I still look back on them fondly. He was also a very encouraging person. When he cheered me on when I arranged and conducted the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure medley, and when he cheered me on when I graduated, I was overjoyed. I wish I could have cheered him on as well for the graduation he was supposed to experience, the senior award he was supposed to receive on the Spring Concert of his senior year, and for other memorable milestones he was supposed to have. I'm glad we ended up keeping in contact even after I graduated, updating each other on our own school lives, and I had looked forward to seeing him and everyone else every time I came back to Arcadia High to visit. He truly lit up the room with his presence and made everything brighter, and he was an amazing violinist. I remember how well-done his performances in his chamber groups were, especially in the one last year that was done in spirit of the Celtic OBD theme. He had given me one of the chocolate coins his group had used at the end of their performance, and I still have the coin to this day. I remember meeting him when he was a quieter person as a freshman, but seeing his growing outgoing side and his increasing involvement in the orchestra, along with his other achievements, has made me so, so proud of him.”

- Arcadia Orchestras Alumna Hannah Dau, Class of 2025

“Aaron was an angel.  Plain and simple.  I remember back in freshman year, when I would hear nothing but the best about him from my friends in orchestra.  “Aaron is so funny!”  “He’s like an older brother!” Any time anyone brought up his name, it was 100% positive.  Then sophomore year began, and I saw him for the first time in person.  He had this smile that just lit up the whole room, and he was always so respectful of everyone.  I remember he’d shush everyone when someone was talking, and yet he’d still manage to make jokes that I could hear from the opposite side of the room.  Aaron was the first person who supported me unconditionally, without ever being my official “friend.”  When I was picked to be first chair I was so nervous and felt completely out of place amongst so many upperclassmen.  But by word of mouth, I heard that he thought I was awesome and proud.  Knowing that just one person was able to support me without caring about status or age or talent or anything, I felt so encouraged and appreciated.  I’m sorry Aaron, I never got to return the favor.  I hope you know that I have always thought you were so cool, so charismatic, so funny.  I wanted to befriend you so badly, and I truly regret never initiating a conversation when I had the chance.  Fly high :)”

- Symphony cellist sophomore Isabella Budasz

“Aaron is such a bright person, who radiated onto everyone he was around. Although I didn’t know him personally, he seemed like someone who anyone could be friends with. He is kind and caring of others and makes people smile all the time. I remember when he led warm-up in place of the section leaders and made everyone laugh so effortlessly. Aaron truly made an impact on all of SO and he can never be forgotten.”

- Symphony violist sophomore Olivia Hui

“Dear Aaron,

Though I never knew you very well, I feel like I have. I see you reflected in some of my closest friends, and I recognize the everlasting impact you've made on them. I see your kindness in the way they care for others, your curiosity in the questions they ask, your joy in the laughter they share, your optimism in the way they face challenges, and your strength in the way they carry themselves each day.

The stories they tell and the memories they cherish speak volumes about the person you were. Even to those of us who knew you only from a distance, it is clear that your presence brought light to the lives of many. Your influence continues to live on in the people who loved you, and your memory remains woven into the fabric of this community. Thank you for touching countless lives, and I hope you know you are so loved and appreciated.

Love,

Alyssa”

- Symphony cellist sophomore Alyssa Guo

“I think that the thing I loved most about him was his writing, and how much of his heart he seemed to pour into it every time. When I drove him to go gift shopping for a friend, we wrote a card in my car in the parking lot, and I thought I had Shakespeare in my passenger seat. The way that he tried to find the little things that made people special really reflected on how caring of a person he was. He was always willing to take the time to make someone else smile, like when he spent an hour just to hide inside jokes in senior notes, or when he used to check in on me when I was sick. I feel so grateful to have had him in my life.”

- Symphony violinist senior Russell Chung

“Last year when I was a freshman, I thought it was a great idea to sign up for the Peer Tutoring program, as I thought it was a great opportunity to meet new people who can help me improve in my orchestra journey. I consider it a miracle that I got paired up with Aaron Dai. At first, we were both too shy for any meaningful words to come out. It took a while, but gradually, Aaron was able to share his unique personality and the joy he had about orchestra.  The 1 hour we spent together each week that had once felt uneventful and grueling felt precious. I sent him very questionable reels, while Aaron sent me such unique jokes that even Shakespeare wouldn't be able to comprehend. He joked that he will never get sleep because he does nothing but play Roblox. Once, I complained to him about how difficult my classes felt, and Aaron sarcastically told me that his grades had dropped down to a -Q and even +Z. Even after I had left Arcadia High School, Aaron always made sure to check up on me and promised me that one day we would come to each other's concerts. Though he never got to come to each other's concerts, I'm glad I got to see him one last time when we were both coincidentally on our San Diego Trip for World Strides. Aaron Dai became the best older brother I could ask for.”

- Sophomore Hayul Chung

“I’m not sure how to write a eulogy, so I decided to fashion my tribute into a letter to you, Aaron. There were many more words I wanted to share about your life, but I think the act of writing itself was enough to help me find peace. I am sorry I couldn’t make it to your vigil. I am sorry for many other things I missed out in your life because I foolishly believed I would have another opportunity, another day, while shamelessly occupied with my own. If I had known that in a few years, you would become nothing more than a bundle of detached, hurting memories doomed to leave me in time, I would have spent every night in our Discord calls. If I had known that in a few years, you would leave, I would have dropped all my silly events to play basketball with you in a school lot one more time. If I had known you would have so soon surrendered your spirit to the boundless, primordial, and fantastical thing that we call our universe, I would have given my every waking hour explaining to you of its facets, of dark matter, of string theory, even if we just speculated and let our most ridiculous theories run wild. But I did not know and I couldn’t have ever known. And it decided to happen anyway. And I resent myself deeply for taking it all for granted. But what our friend Jayden Tran recognized that I failed to notice myself, was that you would want us to remain strong, and keep searching for happiness that at times seems impossible to find. So I will not forget the joy I lost, nor will the hundreds of people that have grieved in solidarity for your passing. But even as my tears now turn this letter to you into a million swirling colors, I will try my very best to seize the positivity you were impossibly able to see. Please rest in peace, Aaron.”

- Junior Christopher Chu