GEORGE TOWN: Penang-born and United States-based musician Jason Lim has added another feather to his cap, this time winning the American Prize in Orchestral Programming, or better known as the Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award – professional division.

       The award honours the award’s Lithuanian namesake who was music director of the Lithuanian State Opera, and for nearly 35 years, the director of orchestral activities at the Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford in the United States.

       Lim, 46, said orchestral programming was an art and he was proud to win the award.

       “When I programme concerts for the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra (in Texas), it involves several months of planning.

       “I have to consider how much money the orchestra has, whether I can add certain works and weigh how many rehearsals are needed.

       “An orchestra cannot survive by catering to only classical music lovers. It must also appeal to young children and music students because they are the future musicians and audience.

       “We have to attract non-classical music lovers who like jazz, pop, folk music and other genres (too),” he said via an online interview.

       “Building a programme is like building a menu for a balanced meal, how the music will feed the audience.”

       Lim said he also needed to collaborate with painters, choreographers and dancers.

       He said he entered the competition the year before, but did not get past the first round.

       “I made the mistake of not going into the details of all the factors and elements that went into my decisions and planning.

       “I learnt that the judges needed to know my thought process and philosophies. So this year, I wrote multiple pages and laid out all the factors that led to my decision ranging from finances, concert venues, musician rosters, audience building, educating young children, building the orchestra, instrumentation and lastly, my final thoughts on artistic elements,” he said.

       The former St Xavier’s Institution student left Penang when he was 17 after winning a scholarship to study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

       He later obtained a bachelor’s degree with honours from the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney and a master’s degree in conducting from the University of North Texas.

       In June 2013, he made his European debut by conducting the Academic State Concert Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Kiev.

       He appeared as guest conductor with the Zabrze Philharmonic Orchestra and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014.

       He was named the 2016-17 American Prize winner in conducting under the professional orchestra division.

       Lim added that he had to balance practice time with work, which pay the bills.

       “I always approach my work with the utmost seriousness and strive to perform at an extremely high calibre.

       “I always go into a rehearsal extremely prepared,” he said.

       Lim said although he did not plan to return to Penang soon, he would be happy to accept invitations from orchestras to work with them.

       “My parents are in Penang and I do miss the food very much,” he quipped.

       Lim added that he had spent the past few years trying to give less privileged students the chance to play at a high level.

       “I’ve done fundraising so that I can provide (them) scholarships to be a part of my youth orchestra and to work with professional musicians from my orchestra, the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra.

       “I think it is a shame that orchestras around the world are struggling to attract new audiences while being labelled as elitists.

       “As musicians, I believe we can do a better job by connecting ourselves with the community and making our work beyond just making music,” he said.