Java Suite by Leopold Godowsky

Sophia will be performing the Java Suite by Leopold Godowsky. The 12 movements are influenced by the gamelan music of Java (Indonesia), extensively utilising pentatonic harmonies throughout.

Full Biography (Sophia Lim)

Email: sophialimyiishin@gmail.com

Sophia Lim is a Malaysian pianist from Sabah, North Borneo. Currently based in London, she had studied under the tutelage of Danny Driver at the Royal College of Music. Before continuing her education in London, Sophia studied with her mentor, Krzysztof Slomiak, in Kota Kinabalu. Her experiences learning the erhu as well as growing up in Sabah greatly enriched her insight and musical versatility through the influence of diverse cultures.

A keen collaborator, Sophia has premiered and recorded several new works on the piano and erhu. Highlights include her performances in FestivAll 2023 ‘From Takemitsu to Miku’, celebrating the music of contemporary Japanese composers, including the premiere of Delyth Field’s Digital Lullaby for harp and piano, curated with Malaysian harpist Ian Lim.

She performed at the Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Centre, in celebration of the 120th anniversary of composer Mátyás Seiber, as part of the Music, Mobility and Migration research project in collaboration with musicians from the Liszt Academy in Budapest. Her determination to perform new music has led her to several collaborations and premiering pieces including the hour-long Metamorphosis for 4 pianos by John Griffith II, and Stratioses by Chai Nien Chin, with a solo feature on the erhu.

Sophia performs both solo and chamber music at venues including Pallant House Gallery (Pallant Proms), St James’s Piccadilly, St George’s Hanover Square, St Mary le Strand, RCM Amaryrillis Fleming Concert Hall among others. In October 2024, she performed a newly commissioned work Amuse Bouche by Nien Chin Chai for violin, harp and piano as part of the Rude Health Festival of New Music. Sophia was also appointed Ambassador of the Benedetti Foundation for the 2024 cohort.

In the summer of 2024, Sophia returned to Malaysia, performing to a full house chamber concert in Kuala Lumpur, in the presence of The Ambassador of Brazil, members of the Taiwan Embassy of Malaysia, and the Royal Patron, Y.A.M. Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz. She also gave workshops and gave her debut solo recital in her hometown, Sabah, at the Tun Hamdan Mini Theatre of Yayasan Sabah, organised by Sparks Malaysia.

Most recently, she made her debut as a member of the New Light Collective, performing Pulau Dewata for piano ensemble at the St James’ Piccadilly. She premiered ‘easel on fire’ for flute and piano by Franklin Onyeso with flautist Tilly Coulton, as well as ‘I, Isobel’ at Milton Court Concert Hall performing a new song by Welsh composer Eluned Davies. She also premiered A Hundred State of Joy for mixed ensemble by Malaysian composer Nien Chin Chai at Blackheath Hall.

Upcoming performances include a solo appearance at St Mary le Strand, where Sophia will be performing the Java Suite by Leopold Godowsky in full, as well as premiering a new piece by Ukrainian composer Alisa Zaika in September 2025. She will also be performing at Yamaha Northumberland with Tilly Coulton in the autumn.