Jimmy has been fascinated by drums since the age of 9. He started playing 24 Festive Drums at the age of 13. At 17 with encouragement from Bernard, he joined Hands Percussion and became one of the original members of the group.  A Multimedia Design graduate, Jimmy collects drums and has a collection from more than 20 countries. He learnt to play the Malay hand drum on his own and has studied the differences between Eastern and Western cultures of percussion.

Jimmy is the Assistant Artistic Director and Principal Percussionist for HANDS. He is also a member of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia’s (Huazong) 24 Festive Drums Development Department. As the Assistant Artistic Director, the responsibility to ensure team practices are on schedule and overall performers skills and standards are always high, falls on Jimmy’s shoulders. This role is no doubt a natural progression from his role as the Principal Percussionist for HANDS where he ensures every performance for every production is of excellent standards. Formerly the 24 Festive Drums Troupe coach at Confucian Private Secondary School (Kuala Lumpur) and SJKC Lick Hung (Subang Jaya), Jimmy now coaches at Sri Cempaka International School (Cheras).

Early in his career he studied traditional Chinese percussion in Beijing with famous masters Wang Jian Hua and Li Cong Nong, and learnt the conga in Malaysia with well-known Latin percussionist, Steve Thornton. Jimmy’s favourite instrument to play is any Latin percussion instrument or any percussion instrument that helps him express his inner pulse and groove. He has collaborated with performance groups from various countries such as, YAMATO – the drummers of Japan, THE LIGHT SURGEONS from UK and DUO FATALE from Switzerland. He participated in KAKISENI’s Arts Exchange KL in 2013 and the Cracking Bamboo International Percussion Music Festival in 2010 and 2012.

Being in the industry for 20 years, Jimmy has an endless collection of memories and experiences. However, his greatest and most meaningful achievement is the person he has become over the years and the level his career has reached so far. This he credits to the challenges constantly thrown his way as a member of HANDS. They keep pushing him to be better and better. Having been giving the freedom, responsibility and trust to choreograph and compose pieces for the team’s productions is a definite incentive to this dynamic musician. In 2012, Jimmy won the Best Solo Performance (Instrumental) and Best Original Composition at the 9 th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards with his composition, “Striking Void”. At the 10 th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in 2013, he won Best Original Composition with a piece he composed with fellow team member, Jack Wan.