Conductors

Lim Soon Oo | Lim Soon Lay
Lim Soon Oo

Lim Soon Oo is the Honorary Director of the China Philharmonic Music Society Conductor Professionals Committee, chartered member of the World Brass Band Outdoor Performance Association, conductor of Malaysia ProArt Chinese Orchestra & ProArt Brass Band, Music Director of Perak Chinese Orchestra, Vice Chairman of Perak Chinese Music Association and Vice Charge d’affaires of Northern Malaysia Chinese Music Association. Currently, he is actively involved in music educational activities, to promote Chinese music and Western classical music. .He learned Chinese and western musical instruments, music theory and conducting from Lim Soon Heng, his elder brother, Su Zhao Xiong, Woon Wen Kin, Woon Nen Kin, Jegheger, Qu Chun Quan, Xia Fei Yun, Wang Ying Jie and a great many.
During his high school years, he participated in Jit Sin High School Chinese Orchestra and Penang Symphony Orchestra (PSO). He served as the conductor for the school’s Chinese Orchestra at a young age of 14. Maestro Lim was appointed as Penang Symphony Orchestra’s Assistant Concert Master, Executive Director and was a player for Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). He adjudicates various competitions throughout the country frequently.
1984 and 1990 |
Handpicked by the then Ministry of Culture to represent Malaysia in the 3rd ASEAN Youth Music Camp in Manila, The Philippines and World Youth Music Camp in Kuala Lumpur. Followed symphony orchestra’s entourage on numerous occasions including participation in the South Australia Arts Festival. Toured Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand on tour concerts. |
1993 |
Attended Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Chinese Musician, Hua Yan Jun (Ah Bing) International Seminar in Wuxi, China. |
1994 |
Participated the 2nd China Music International Conference in Beijing, organized by North America China Music Association;
Conducted the premiere of the Erhu and Pipa Double Concerto: Southeast the Peacock Flies, penned by renowned composer Jin Xia Zai in Malaysia, in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of China-Malaysia Diplomatic Relations. For the event, he collaborated with China’s Pipa soloist Yang Wei and Erhu soloist Xiang Pei Xing. |
1995 and 1996 |
Attended the International Brass Band Outdoor Performance Conference in Australia upon invitation. |
1996 |
Appointed conductor for the 1st Malaysia National Youth Chinese Music Training Camp and National Hundred-Strong Musicians Chinese Orchestra performance;
Attended the World Brass Band Indoor & Outdoor Performance Association International Conference in Chicago, USA. |
1997 |
Hired as Penang State Huayue Orchestra’s conductor by the Penang State Government |
April, 1998 |
Assumes the role of guest conductor and lecturer by invitation from the Faculty of Chinese Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, of which is the one of the 4 largest music institutions in the world for 1 month. |
1999 |
Maestro Lim’s profile was included in China’s Musicians Dictionary, published by China People’s Publishing Co. |
October, 2000 |
Attended, by the invitation of China Musicians Association and International Musicians Confederation, the International Seminar for the Protection of Music Rights. |
November, 2000 |
Participated the Cultural Perspective of Modern Chinese Music Exchange Seminar Programme |
2002 |
Enrolled into the Class of Research of the Faculty of Arts, Peking University to study Cultural Arts Management Course. |
End October, 2003 |
Upon invitation from the Phuket Tourism Authority , led Jit Sin (N.T.) High School Chinese Orchestra for a grand performance in Phuket Island, Thailand |
Mid-May, 2004 |
Participated in National Professional Chinese Orchestra exhibition performance, organized by China National Symphonic Music Association |
Mid-August 2004 |
Participated in 2004 Chinese Music Composition Symposium in Taipei, organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA), Taiwan (ROC). |
January, 2005 |
Led the Moral Uplifting Society's Chinese Orchestra to participate in 2nd Shanghai (Changshan Delta) Region Amateur Chinese Orchestras Showcase |
July, 2005 |
Led Penang ProArt Chinese Orchestra, together with Music Director, Lim Soon Huat to Nanjing China for a Chinese music symphonic performance to commemorate The 600th Anniversary of the Voyage of Admiral Zheng He |
Early August, 2005 |
Accompanied by Principal Fang Cheng, led Jit Sin (N.T.) Chinese Orchestra to bag the Sunshine Award in the 3rd Youth Chinese Orchestra Invitational Competition in Beijing. The Orchestra was commended Best Organization Prize, whereas Maestro Lim was awarded Consolation Prize for the conducting category. |
December, 2006 |
Accompanied by the newly appointed Principal Tan Jin Zhong, led Jit Sin (N.T.) High School Chinese Orchestra to perform in Shatin Town Hall in Hong Kong. |
| January, 2007 |
Led ProArt Chinese Orchestra to Taipei to collaborate with Taipei Youth Chinese Orchestra in a concert named "The Great Northwest Suite". |
| May, 2007 |
Maestro Lim's profile is once again published by the Malaysian Celebrities Publisher Co., in Who’s Who in the Malaysian Chinese Community. |
Maestro Lim has collaborated with many renowned musicians, performers and soloists such as Min Hui Fen, Feng Shao Xian, Yu Xun Fa, Yang Wei, Cui Jian Qing, Xiang Bei Xing, Zhan Shi Xing, Wu Xiang Yang, Asian famous singer Jay Chao, Singapore Di-zi Player Lim Xin You.
Last Updated: April 7, 2008
Lim Soon Lay

Lim Soon Lay hails from Penang, Malaysia. She learned the piano, violin, erhu, theory of music and harmonisation from Maestro Woon Wen Kin, Ms. Woon Nen Kin, Mr Saw Yeong Ching and her eldest brother, Lim Soon Heng. In 1993, she furthered her studies in erhu, violin, and theory of conducting at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Professor Wang Yongde, Professor Ding Zhi Nuo, Professor Xia Fei Yun, Professor Chen Ying Shi, Professor Zhang Shao, Professor Xiang Zu Ying, Ms. Min Hui Fen (erhu virtuoso) and Mr. Zhang Yu Ming (erhu virtuoso).
She is frequently invited to perform cultural programmes with the RTM Symphonic Band throughout the country. Her various achievements over the years have been compiled in Who’s Who in the Malaysian Chinese Community, published by the Malaysian Celebrities Publisher Co.
1995 |
Awarded 1st Prize of the Foreign Category for the Welfare Cup ’95 International Chinese Musical Instruments Solo Competition, held in Beijing |
1997 |
Presented her premiere erhu solo recital concert in Shanghai |
1998 |
Given the honour to conduct the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra in 1998 |
1998 |
Graduated with an honours degree. She was commended with the Most Outstanding Foreign Students by the National Education Committee with the backing of her remarkable results. On top of that, she secured a full scholarship to further her studies to master degree in Chinese Instrumental Conducting. She went under the tutorship of Professor Xia Fei Yun and Theoretical lecturer Professor Chen Ying Shi . |
2000 |
After graduating with a master degree, she returned to her homeland and became active in the music circle in performing, teaching and adjudicating. |
2001 |
Invited to conduct The Legend of Sha Di Er concert in Taipei by Taipei Chinese Orchestra |
2002 |
Invited to be an adjudicator of the 2nd International Chinese Music Festival |
2002 |
Appointed as honorary member of the Committee for the Huqin Profession of the China Chinese Music Association. |
2003 |
Invited to attend the 1st Chinese Music Conducting Arts Theory Seminar, at the same time was appointed as honorary member of the Committee for the Conducting Profession of the China Chinese Music Association. |
2004 |
Presented the premiere performance of Lu Liang Hui’s Rhymes of Xinjiang Dance in the 1st International Hu-Qin Arts Festival and Wuxi International Chinese Music Festival in Xuzhou, China, upon invitation. |
2005 |
By invitation, she conducted Professional Cultural Centre Orchestra (PCCO) in a concert named “Legends of the Lands Beyond the Great Wall” |
2006 |
Led ProArt Chinese Orchestra to Hangzhou China to participate in 2006 1st Hangzhou Local and Overseas Jiang Nan Ensemble Invitational Competition. The orchestra was subsequently awarded Outstanding Performance Prize. |
2006 |
Upon invitation by the Beijing Education Department, conducted ProArt Chinese Orchestra for a showcase in Beijing in conjunction with 2006 Beijing International Youth Arts Week. |
| 2007 |
Received Best Conductor Award at the 4th Beijing Youth Chinese Orchestras Invitational Competition. Awarded the "Contemporary Women's Excellence Award" by Women's Weekly magazine in September. |
Last Updated: April 7, 2008
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