Biography

Singaporean classical harpist, Ashley Lim Cheng Wei, is a current fellow at The Orchestra Now where she holds the position of principal harpist. Since starting the harp at age fourteen, Ashley has performed internationally in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Met Museum,  Symphony Space, the Esplanade and Victoria Concert Hall among others. 

As an active orchestral musician, she has played with The Orchestra Now, Buffalo Philharmonic , CCM Philharmonia, RCM Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, Re: Mix (Singapore) and Jakarta Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, she has given recitals across Asia, Europe and America. In addition to being familiar with western works, Ashley is also well versed in eastern music, having performed Malay, Javanese and Indian classical music, and has even worked with numerous Chinese and ethnic orchestras around Singapore.  

To further her appreciation and understanding of her instrument, Ashley was an apprentice under Lyon & Healy, and Salvi harps, and is working towards becoming a harp technician/regulator.  

Captivated by the constant growth of new repertoire for the harp, Ashley is keen on her continual learning journey and has even  premiered works for harp by many Singaporean composers. With a strong desire for community involvement and  sharing her love of music, Ashley has organized recitals and outreach programs bringing music to the blind, young children and elderlies in Singapore.   

During the summers, Ashley has attended and performed in music festivals such as the Bard Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Festival Music Alps (Tignes), HarpMasters Academy and the Young Artist Harp Seminar. 

  Ashley graduated with a Master's degree from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Doctor Gillian Bennet Sella. She obtained her bachelor’s degree with honors from the Royal College of Music (London) / Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts where she studied with Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s principal harpist, Gulnara Mashurova and Soloist, Ieuan Jones.