Cellist Ashton Lim brings extensive professional performing experience and an individualized
approach to his teaching at the Vancouver Academy of Music. Ashton works with students to
build a strong technical foundation while fostering musical curiosity, independence, and
confidence in navigating the cello. He tailors his teaching to each student, giving them the tools
to grow as musicians.
His students have distinguished themselves at local, provincial, and national competitions,
performed as concerto soloists with leading youth orchestras, and appeared at Carnegie Hall.
Internationally, Ashton has coached students at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico and
taught private lessons, masterclasses, and chamber music at the Academia Filarmónica de
Medellín in Colombia.
Ashton has performed regularly with the Canadian Opera Company (COC), National Ballet of
Canada, Santa Fe Opera, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Turning Point Ensemble, Vancouver
Opera Orchestra, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. He was previously a member of the New
World Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. Ashton’s
performances have taken him to venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall and the
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (USA), Lishui Grand Theatre (China), and Prince
Mahidol Hall (Thailand); closer to home, he has performed in the Royal Conservatory’s Koerner
Hall and COC’s Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in Toronto.
Ashton has been a strong advocate for youth music education through his work in arts leadership.
He served as Executive Director of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra from 2024–2026
and is the Program Manager at Morningside Music Bridge, an international training program
held at the New England Conservatory for gifted artists aged 12–18.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Ashton began his studies with Audrey Nodwell at the Vancouver
Academy of Music and completed his ARCT in Cello Performance. He holds degrees from
Mount Royal Conservatory, the University of Calgary, Northwestern University, and the Glenn
Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers were John Kadz, Hans
Jørgen Jensen, Andrés Diaz, and Desmond Hoebig. Ashton has been generously supported by the
Canada Council for the Arts.