Ivan Lim – Classical Guitarist, Performer & Instructor

Welcome to my webspace! Some of you know me as a journalist and author, while others recognise me as a classical guitarist / instructor. Combining the two skills, I'm sharing my music and knowledge of the classical guitar with anyone who would listen and learn here or at my free Open Studio. I'm also devoting some time to featuring prominent musicians and luthiers in Features, an editorial series on everyday classical guitarists called, I, Guitarist, as well as Excuse Me? – a column on all things that matter to classical guitarists.

In this space, you can also get exclusive release of Scores – my arrangements of well-loved Chinese classic songs. And if you plan to buy a guitar, check out the luthiers and brands that I work with.

Recently, I was part of the jury for the SEA Guitar Performance Awards 2024 in Bangkok. A bit about myself: I started training in the classical guitar when I was 10 and by the time I was 13, I had come in first in the Singapore Guitar Festival Classical Solo Junior section (under 16) organised by Yamaha Music School. At 17, I came in second in the Classical Solo Open section as the youngest competitor in a field

dominated by music instructors. Years later, I performed a solo concert during the Singapore International Guitar Festival at the Alliance Francaise Singapour and accompanied Lithuanian accordionist Martynas Levickis – who was at the time the No 1 classical recording artist in the UK – at Yellow Lounge. I studied the classical guitar for nine years. But as fate would have it, I became a journalist later on. Over the years, I have had a fairly successful career in journalism, and I have also written, edited and produced about 40 books. But I never stopped playing the guitar.

Till today, I continue to practise and learn new pieces.
Besides playing works by living composers, I play a wide range of music, though I lean towards the Spanish Romantic style – Francisco Tarrega, Isaac Albeniz, Miguel Llobet, Federic Moreno Torroba, etc – as well as works of Latin American composers such as Agustin Barrios Mangore, Manuel Maria Ponce, Leo Brouwer, Astor Piazzolla and Heitor Villa-Lobos. I hope you enjoy the contents of this space.

I also hope to see you at my Open Studio workshop in May. By-invite through pre-registration.

FEATURES

FEATURES
Chinnawat Themkumkwun
Devoted Teacher, Inspiring Performer

BY IVAN LIM
Aug 10 2024

FEATURES
Bernado Soler
Soler’s Love Song to the Classical Guitar

BY IVAN LIM
May 13 2024

FEATURES
YS Tang
Once a Bad Student, Tang is a Master Now

BY IVAN LIM
Apr 4 2024

FEATURES
From Archeology to the Ancient Masters
Adrien Savary Freestone’s Quest to Build the Modern Musician’s Guitar

BY IVAN LIM
Apr 4 2024

FEATURES
Playlist
10 Pieces that Every Classical Guitarist Should Know

BY IVAN LIM
Jan 20 2024

FEATURES
Dr Ko Yi-Fang
For the Love of Playing Together

BY IVAN LIM
Feb 2 2024

BUY A CLASSICAL GUITAR – LUTHIERS & BRANDS

LUTHIERS
FR
Adrien Savary-Freestone

LUTHIERS
RU / AL
Sergei Rusakov

LUTHIERS
USA
Brian Itzkin

GUITAR BRANDS
CN
Saers Guitar

LUTHIERS
VN
Hoang Hai

LUTHIERS
USA / GER
Kris Barnett

ASIAN CLASSIC SCORES

Discover the timeless charm of Chinese classic songs specially arranged for the classical guitar by Ivan Lim. For a small donation, you have the opportunity to download the scores, with tabs available, absolutely free. Immerse yourself in the melodic beauty of renowned pieces such as "Man In The Net", "Yesterday's Glitter" and "Fairytale".

To access these musical treasures, go to Scores to make a small donation. You'll receive all scores (tabs and without) via e-mail.

EXCUSE ME?

EXCUSE ME?
Keep Your Guitar Happy In Hot & Humid S'pore

BY IVAN LIM
Jan 6 2024

EXCUSE ME?
Who's Afraid Of Criticism?

BY IVAN LIM
Jan 2 2024

EXCUSE ME?
How I Overcame Performance Anxiety, Or Stage Fright

BY IVAN LIM
Jan 2 2024

WATCH

VIDEOS
A Collection Of Recorded Classics & Contemporary Pieces

LISTEN

LESSONS

COURSES 2024
Introduction To The Classical Guitar

Learn to play the classical guitar the correct way, with a technically-accomplished instructor who will show you how you can quickly master the basics of playing. You'll be able to read notes and play simple tunes at the end of the course. WhatsApp the artists' assistant on rates & scheduling.

COURSES 2024
Classical Guitar Lessons For All Levels

Learn to play the classical guitar the correct way with tailored individual lessons or together with friends in a group class. Master the guitar at your own preferred pace, and play beautifully. WhatsApp the artists' assistant on rates & scheduling.

CONCERTS & OPEN STUDIO

OPEN STUDIO
An Evening Of Picking Up A New Hobby

Singapore: An intimate soiree of likeminded people coming together for a night of classical music by Ivan Lim, short talk and discussion. Light refreshments will be served. Invite-only by online pre-registration.

Learn More

CONCERTS
Oct 12 2024
YS Tang
The Intimate Salon
Catch acclaimed Malaysian classical guitarist YS Tang as he makes his Singapore debut with works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Francisco Tarrega, Isaac Albeniz and Enrique Granados.

Singapore, Oct 12, Sat, 7.30PM SOLD OUT!
Ticket: SGD28
Venue: MusArt Co-Create, Concert Hall
Address: 10 Raeburn Park, #B1-01, Singapore, 088702

Get Tickets

CONCERTS
JUNE 14, 15, 16 2024
SEA Guitar Festival and Performance Awards

Held in collaboration with the Faculty of Music of Silpakorn University Bangkok, the 4th edition of the festival will see 18 artists from around the region. Representing Singapore is classical guitarist Ivan Lim, who will serve as a judge for the Performance Awards as well as a performer during the three-day festival.

Bangkok, June 14-16
Admission: Free
Venue: Main Auditorium, Silpakorn University (Wang Tha Phra Campus)
Address: 31 Na Phra Lan Rd, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
Website: www.seaguitarcompetition.com

CONCERTS
MARCH 9 & 16 2024
Treasures Of The Guitar

The selection of works for this solo concert represents the best loved music in the classical guitar canon with works from Agustin Barrios, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Francisco Tarrega, Federico Moreno Torroba and Isaac Albeniz, while showing the possibilities of the guitar with arrangements of popular Asian pieces and a section of familiar modern works and those by living composers. They are, indeed, treasures of the classical guitar.

Malacca, March 9, Sat, 6PM SOLD OUT!
Call/WhatsApp +60 17‑987 0019‬ for tickets
Early bird ticket: RM30 (before Jan 31 2024)
Ticket from Feb 1: RM35
Venue: Dees Music Studio
Address: 88-1, Jln M Raya 25, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, March 16, Sat, 7.30PM
Call/WhatsApp 60 17-641 6491 for tickets
Adult ticket: RM50
Student ticket: RM35
Venue: Chillax Music
Address: C-5-6, Plaza Bukit Jalil (Aurora Place), No 1, Jalan Persiaran Jalil 1, Bandar Bukit Jalil, KL

GALLERY – RECENT EVENTS

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