Hold My Hand

In conjunction with Autism Awareness Month, Tatler speaks to autistic savant pianist Clarence Kang and his mother Joyce Lim about their journey and a mother's enduring love

- Kiran Pillay

In the lobby of Prince Court Medical Centre, autistic savant pianist Clarence Kang comforts visitors with his music, playing stirring instrumental renditions of contemporary pop hits. “Sometimes, patients come by to wait for his performances with their IV drip bags in hand. Although Clarence has his difficulties, he is living proof that everyone has a purpose in life and can contribute in some way to society,” asserts his mother, Joyce Lim. Kang also performs at Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, rotating between locations every month. As Lim says, “Music heals the soul.”

Diagnosed as a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Kang was 10 years old when he began to play the piano formally. Able to read books and decipher difficult words as an infant, it was little surprise that the young outlier could play challenging musical arrangements without formal instruction. Comfortably reading music and analysing complex chords, Kang has eidetic recollections of the compositions he learns. He has since come under the tutelage of some notable piano instructors, including Juilliard scholar Dr Nicholas Ong.

Although autism awareness has come a long way over the last 20 years, Lim still recalls a time when people would accuse her, the mother of three, of being a “bad parent,” blaming her for Kang’s inability to connect with people in conventional ways. “Clarence’s way of communicating is through his music,” Lim says, proud of her son’s achievements.