BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION:
Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy Boston Conservatory at Berklee, USA, Scholar
Master of Music in Music Education (Autism Concentration) Boston Conservatory at Berklee, USA, Scholar
Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Vocal Performance Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, Scholar
London College of Music Pop Vocals Diploma
Singaporean Soprano, vocal coach and arts educator Rachel Lim is well-versed in a variety of styles, expressing her versatility through performing Classical, Pop, Jazz, R&B and Musical Theatre. She is also the Founder and Director of Singapore-based vocal teaching school, VOCA Academy and Adjunct Lecturer in the Voice Department at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.
She has performed as the soprano soloist in John Rutter’s Magnificat and Mass of the Children, sung alongside Maestro Masaaki Suzuki in Bach’s cantatas and was chosen as part of the world premiere of Travelogue, a new work written for Singapore’s Golden Jubilee SG50 by composer Robert Casteels. She has also been selected to participate in public masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Roger Vignoles, Marie Ryan and Harolyn Blackwell. Her operatic debut was in 2017 as the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel with the Orchestra of the Music Makers at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Singapore.
A strong advocate for arts education and inclusivity, Rachel was involved in organising and facilitating multiple community engagement projects, including Project Infinitude with Superhero Me and Enabling Village, which was created for children with disabilities; The Enchanted Garden, an original multi-sensory show for children with special needs; and a self-initiated project Transitions at the Children’s Cancer Foundation’s Place for Academic Learning and Support (PALS), which aims to build confidence in children recovering from cancer. She was an Artist Mentor in The Captain’s Programme with Superhero Me and in the pilot team for Daytime Moon Creations, the theatre programme at Berklee Institute of Arts Education and Special Needs. She was recently selected to be an Artist Fellow with Teach To Learn Fellowship 2020, a global organization running projects to fuel social change. She founded the concert series UNHEARD, which features works by women composers past and present. She also frequently conducts voice building workshops around Singapore at universities and corporate companies to encourage a higher standard of effective voice production and singing.
Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Music with Honours (Distinction) degree in Vocal Performance from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, where she studied with Professor Alan Bennett under a full scholarship. She received a double Masters of Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Music Education (Autism Concentration) at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, USA. She is honoured to be a recipient of the National Arts Council Postgraduate Scholarship 2018. She is also grateful to receive generous support from the Trailblazer Foundation and Tan Kah Kee Foundation as one of the inaugural Li Siong Tay Scholarship awardees.
Rachel believes that music is so much more than an art form; and that each individual has a creative voice, which can be used for self-expression and connection with others. She has a deep understanding of vocal science and pedagogy, and aims to use body awareness and physical engagement to allow for the greatest ease of singing. She aspires to help maximise each person’s potential through a creative and inclusive approach.
Feel free to reach out for inquiries or engagements!