"NAFA holds some of the most important and cherished memories in my musical development. I owe a debt of gratitude to my biggest mentors Benjamin Loh, Minni Ang, Eric Watson and Jennifer Tham who have inspired and supported me through chasing my dreams."
Singaporean composer-conductor Darius Lim is the Founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Singapore.
He graduated from NAFA’s School of Music in 2009. In the past decade, he has risen to prominence in the national and international music scene, garnering more than 40 national and international awards that include gold medals, 1st and 2nd prizes, category champions, and other special prizes in both local and international choral and composition competitions.
With a strong belief in instilling lifelong appreciation for choral music and promoting Singaporean music, Darius has carved a reputation as an advocate of choral music whose choirs and works inspire, engage, educate and entertain audiences around the world.
He founded Voices of Singapore Festival in 2016 which has now grown to become the nation’s largest non-competitive singing festival, with close to 10,000 participants. The Voices of Singapore Choral Society that has its home now at Capitol Theatre houses choirs from all walks of life. Darius’ life vision is to build and promote a singing Singapore, where Singaporeans are engaged and inspired through choral participation.
An established concert pianist, Lim performed Liszt Piano Concerto No.1 with the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra and has given numerous piano recitals in Asia. His awards include the Gold Prizes at the 2nd and 3rd International Piano Festival and Competition in South Korea and Silver Medal (Piano Solo Open Category) at the Asian Youth Music Competition.
The various youth choirs led by him have also won many accolades including Second Place (Chamber Choir Category) by the Voco Singapore Ladies Choir at the Cracovia Cantans International Choral Festival in Poland, Gold Award by Crescent Girls’ School Choir at the Singapore International Choral Festival, Golden Voices Award by the NUS Society Choir at the Asia Cantate International Choir Festival, and the Gold Medal by Temasek Chorale at the Guangzhou International Choir Championships.
An internationally published composer (Edition Peters, Walton Music, Cypress Publishing, Pana Música) and an active adjudicator and clinician, Darius is one of the most sought-after Singaporean choral composer-conductors today, and is most known for his unique infusion of lyrical, dramatic, instrumental and theatrical elements in both the choirs he directs as well as his choral music.