Joachim Theodore Lim

Percussion

Growing up in a family of six was - and still is - atypical, but it made an extremely memorable childhood for Joachim. There was always music at home despite his parents’ lack of musical aptitude, but he was always more enthusiastic in running around or cycling or playing in the rain. His parents started him on piano at age 7 and at 8 he joined his primary school band playing flute - something which he hoped to continue pursuing in secondary school but was eventually assigned to the percussion section. On hindsight, what was initially an upsetting event turned out to be the biggest blessing in disguise for Joachim.

Though he enjoyed playing percussion then, he always considered it a hobby and never thought of pursuing a career in music. However, with the encouragement of his then-girlfriend (now wife!) as well as family, he successfully auditioned and enrolled into the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YSTCM) as an undergraduate in music performance, which also included studies at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University as part of the joint-degree programme. It was his experience in America that truly opened the never-ending can of worms called music. He was intrigued, hungry for information and profoundly inspired not only by his teachers and peers in school, but also by the culture and the level of musicianship.

Joachim received full scholarships for both his undergraduate at YSTCM and graduate studies at the Peabody Institute. Upon returning to Singapore after attaining his Master’s degree, he also organised and performed a solo concert for two years which led to him receiving more calls from the music industry, especially after being abroad. The formation of Lorong Boys was also a highlight of his time as an undergraduate student. This allowed them to develop a niche name for themselves, performing in various events locally and abroad. Joining the TENG Ensemble was eye-opening as he began working with musicians who played Chinese music instrument, thus initiating his journey in learning more about Chinese drums as well as classical Chinese music. Most recently, he has joined the faculty of his Alma Mater and is grateful to be among the ranks of many established musicians and educators in the conservatory. However, the most important milestone for Joachim was not music related, it was marrying his soulmate. They got married just after he graduated from YSTCM and had their first born during his final semester in my graduate studies.

Being a musician is to be multi-faceted; as artist faculty, he coaches and trains the percussion students in the YSTCM as well as the Singapore School Of The Arts. Being an educator also allows him to share his experiences and knowledge to various school percussionists, hopefully inspiring the students along the way, just as his teachers have inspired him. As a performer, despite the pandemic halting live music, he has had the privilege to perform and record various types of videos and concerts. Working remotely has also connected him with other musicians globally as he find himself offering his skills to them through remote recordings. Joachim juggles his musical career while being a family man, you can find him with his instrument or with his wife and kids. Joachim notes that “It may not be the most glamorous of tasks, but spending time together in both the good and trying times make everything worthwhile because at the end of the day, they are the ones that matter.”