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Singaporean boy, 13, graduates from top Australian university with perfect GPA

2023-12-20 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - When Nathanael Koh was one year old, he was diagnosed with a condition that affected his cognitive and physical development, leaving his parents anxious that he may never function independently.

His father, Mr Chris Koh, 45, told The Straits Times: “He could not walk without help at two years old. As a child, he never spoke and if he made a sound, it was a mess of words that no one understood.

“Crying and feeling lost was a constant thing for (my wife and me) for months.”

But it was when the couple introduced Nathanael to books that they realised his ability to read and learn at levels far beyond those expected for his peers.

On Dec 15, at 13, the Singaporean became one of the youngest students to graduate from the Australian National University (ANU), earning an honours degree in music composition with a perfect grade point average.

He also earned a high distinction in his thesis, which explored the use of linear algebra to find possible harmonies and test them out.

Despite being surrounded by students often twice or thrice his age, Nathanael said that he had no problem coping with the academic rigours of university or fitting in with his classmates.

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“I could think at the same level as them and we all communicated through our common language of music,” he said.

He started playing piano at age three but switched to musical theory as per his teacher’s recommendation because his fingers were too weak. He later learnt to play the piano, clarinet and saxophone.

At age nine, he completed his diploma in music theory from Trinity College London. He also became the youngest composer-in-residence at the Singapore’s Kids Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nathanael’s original compositions have since been performed by professional musicians in Britain, the United States, Australia and Finland.

Nathanael Koh became the youngest composer-in-residence at the Singapore’s Kids Philharmonic Orchestra at age nine. PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHRIS KOH

On top of his accomplishments in music, Nathanael is a member of high intelligence quotient society Mensa in Singapore and New Zealand, with an IQ of 132. The average IQ score is 100.

He also scored A+ for several mathematics modules at New Zealand’s University of Canterbury at age 12.

Despite his achievements, Nathanael’s journey to academic success has been far from smooth.

He was diagnosed with global developmental delay, which meant he lacked the muscular strength needed to perform everyday tasks.

At 12 months old, Nathanael Koh was diagnosed with global developmental delay, which meant he lacked the muscular strength needed to perform everyday tasks. PHOTO: COURTESY OF CHRIS KOH

His father, a director of a social enterprise, said that Nathanael’s speech was incoherent at four and that he could not eat solid foods at seven.

To aid in Nathanael’s development, he moved his family to New Zealand in 2015. They then moved to Australia and have since returned to Singapore.

While overseas, Nathanael learnt to bathe, brush his teeth and go to the toilet independently only at 10.