Founder / Music Director / Principal Conductor
DAMIEN LIM
M.Mus, FRSA, FLCM, LRSM, LGSMD(PPD), ATCL, ALCM, DipABRSM, SDip (Arts Ed)
A 4th-generation Peranakan, originally trained in the Yamaha Electone & Concert Percussion, Damien spent his early years as a SAF Central Band musician, a multi-percussionist/keyboardist in musical theatre productions and as an actor in Growing Up & GOTCHA! during the TCS days.
Damien holds a Masters in Music (2021) from the London College of Music, University of West London, majoring in performance and teaching and is currently pursuing his 2nd Masters in Music Leadership at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (National University of Singapore). He is presently the Music Director of the award-winning MINISTRY OF BELLZ (MOB). 27 years of music work has brought him to perform, teach & adjudicate in more than 23 countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Ireland & France. His teachers, many to name, include his late-Dad Nicholas Lim (Band Directing), Percussion from Syed Ibrahim, Lim Meng Keh & Tamagoh, Handbells from Chris Fong, Kevin Ko & Jun-ichi Ozawa, Conducting from John Hooper, Emily Li & Chan Tze Law, Composition from John Howard & Eugene Dairianathan.
Damien advocates the importance of quality teaching/learning/performance & enjoyment in music-making in today’s 21st century handbell ringing. He was admitted as a Fellow (FRSA) with the Royal Society of the Arts (UK) in 2016 & a Fellow (FLCM) of the London College of Music (UK) in 2015.
In handbells, Damien was invited to conduct & present workshops in countries such as the UK, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, Taiwan & Malaysia. He currently also serves as Executive Director of the Handbell Ringers of Singapore (HRSG) and works closely with the team to oversee the development of handbell music in Singapore and its relations oversees. Outside the MOB, he directs the handbell teams at 6 mainstream schools & is consultant to 8 other school ensembles. He also teaches handbells & chimes at Special Education Schools, working with children with autism & persons with disabilities.
True to his Peranakan heritage, he enjoys fusing handbell music with Concert, Asian & Latin percussion instrument. In addition to percussion, Damien enjoys incorporating technology & multi-disciplinary elements into his productions. This brings a “new perspective” into the handbell music he creates.
A firm believer of Communities of Practice (Wenger, 1998), Damien encourages his students in self-directed learning & critical thinking. He contributes actively to the learning & enjoyment of music making in students & in the development of handbell standards in Singapore. He constantly seeks to be “purposeful in pursuit of excellence”.
Damien received the “Friend of Arts Award” from the NAC in 2012, 2014 & 2017 and was nominated for the NAC Young Artiste Award in 2007 & 2011, and the NYC National Youth Award in 2007, for his contributions to the arts.
To know more about him, visit www.damienlim.weebly.com
M.Mus, FRSA, FLCM, LRSM, LGSMD(PPD), ATCL, ALCM, DipABRSM, SDip (Arts Ed)
A 4th-generation Peranakan, originally trained in the Yamaha Electone & Concert Percussion, Damien spent his early years as a SAF Central Band musician, a multi-percussionist/keyboardist in musical theatre productions and as an actor in Growing Up & GOTCHA! during the TCS days.
Damien holds a Masters in Music (2021) from the London College of Music, University of West London, majoring in performance and teaching and is currently pursuing his 2nd Masters in Music Leadership at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (National University of Singapore). He is presently the Music Director of the award-winning MINISTRY OF BELLZ (MOB). 27 years of music work has brought him to perform, teach & adjudicate in more than 23 countries, including Egypt, Turkey, Ireland & France. His teachers, many to name, include his late-Dad Nicholas Lim (Band Directing), Percussion from Syed Ibrahim, Lim Meng Keh & Tamagoh, Handbells from Chris Fong, Kevin Ko & Jun-ichi Ozawa, Conducting from John Hooper, Emily Li & Chan Tze Law, Composition from John Howard & Eugene Dairianathan.
Damien advocates the importance of quality teaching/learning/performance & enjoyment in music-making in today’s 21st century handbell ringing. He was admitted as a Fellow (FRSA) with the Royal Society of the Arts (UK) in 2016 & a Fellow (FLCM) of the London College of Music (UK) in 2015.
In handbells, Damien was invited to conduct & present workshops in countries such as the UK, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, Taiwan & Malaysia. He currently also serves as Executive Director of the Handbell Ringers of Singapore (HRSG) and works closely with the team to oversee the development of handbell music in Singapore and its relations oversees. Outside the MOB, he directs the handbell teams at 6 mainstream schools & is consultant to 8 other school ensembles. He also teaches handbells & chimes at Special Education Schools, working with children with autism & persons with disabilities.
True to his Peranakan heritage, he enjoys fusing handbell music with Concert, Asian & Latin percussion instrument. In addition to percussion, Damien enjoys incorporating technology & multi-disciplinary elements into his productions. This brings a “new perspective” into the handbell music he creates.
A firm believer of Communities of Practice (Wenger, 1998), Damien encourages his students in self-directed learning & critical thinking. He contributes actively to the learning & enjoyment of music making in students & in the development of handbell standards in Singapore. He constantly seeks to be “purposeful in pursuit of excellence”.
Damien received the “Friend of Arts Award” from the NAC in 2012, 2014 & 2017 and was nominated for the NAC Young Artiste Award in 2007 & 2011, and the NYC National Youth Award in 2007, for his contributions to the arts.
To know more about him, visit www.damienlim.weebly.com
