David Lim Kim San- Singapore Medallion

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• published: 22 Jun 2015
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David Lim Kim San (b. 7 May 1933, Singapore - ), Executive Director of Young Musicians’ Society, has found great fulfillment as an educator, administrator, producer, advocate, vocalist and conductor in a diverse and challenging career in music which spanned more than four decades,. David’s contribution to the school band and choral movements began in the 1960s when he and an elite group of specialists spearheaded the music education scene in Singapore. David was notably significant for his role as conductor of the Singapore Youth Choir (SYC) for more than two decades. He led the choir to its momentous victory at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales in 1974, winning the first prize in the youth category. He was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 1979 for his distinguished contributions to the nation. He was also awarded the Cultural Long Service Award and COMPASS Meritorious Award in 1992 and 2001 respectively. Lim was born to a large and extended Peranakan-Methodist family of ten children. His poignant experience with music as a child was closely associated with wartime memories and the solace drawn from his mother’s singing of hymns as the family hid in the basement of the Cathay building in 1941 to escape from the Japanese invasion. Since then, his Christian faith and love for music have become the heartbeat that motivates him to crusade for music education in schools and ministry. David Lim’s childhood was spent in Telok Kurau, in the east coast of Singapore. His education at Telok Kurau Primary School was interrupted in 1941 when the Japanese occupied Singapore. He continued his formal studies when the British resumed governance in 1945. During his secondary school days in Victoria School, he benefited from the mentorship of Benjamin Khoo and Paul Abisheganaden, both of whom he credits for his musical and career achievements. David Lim pursued a teaching certification in 1953, with a specialisation in music. Upon graduation in 1955, he taught full time in Cantonment Primary School and Bartley Secondary School. He later joined the Ministry of Education (MOE) as a visiting music teacher and worked under the guidance of Benjamin Khoo, a Senior Specialist Inspector. This fruitful working relationship led to both men leading the Combined Schools Choir, later renamed the Singapore Youth Choir (SYC), with Khoo as conductor and Lim as assistant conductor. David Lim took over the reins of the SYC in 1968. In the mid-1960s, Lim and Khoo initiated the school band movement and designed the band curriculum for MOE. In 1969, Lim was promoted to Head of Music Department in MOE, with responsibilities extending to the supervision of band instructors, school bands, and choral projects. From the initial strength of four Boys’ Brigade bands, he successfully raised the number of bands to more than 150 in both primary and secondary schools within a short term. From 1970 to 1972, Lim was sent to Australia and Japan to study educational broadcasting in Australia and the music education scene in Japan. David Lim’s competent administrative skills were called upon when he was Organising Secretary of the Singapore Festival of Arts in 1977-78. He also served as General Manager of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) from 1981 to 1985. Lim returned to MOE after his stint with SSO and later pioneered the instrumental teaching programme in primary schools which encouraged the use of instruments in the teaching and learning of music. In the area of choral conducting, David was responsible for the formation and training of many junior college choirs including the National, Anglo-Chinese, Anderson, and Jurong Junior Colleges. However, it was the SYC’s national and international successes that brought Lim much pride and joy. He led the SYC to win first place in the Youth section and second in the Open section in the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales in 1974. Lim’s musical legacy is still palpable in the thriving choral scene in Singapore, where many of the school choirs are now led by former members of the SYC. Awards 1970 : Efficiency Medal 1979 : Cultural Medallion 1986 : Public Administration Medal (Bronze) 1989 : Guinness Stout Effort Award (together with SYC) 1992 : Cultural Long Service Award 1994 : Government Long Service Award 2001 : COMPASS Meritorious Award