Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ian Lum embarked on his musical journey at the age of four, beginning with piano lessons. Under the guidance of Ann Perreau, Ian made his debut as a piano concerto soloist at just five years old. He soon added the cello to his repertoire, studying with Julie Dessureault of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.At the age of nine, Ian left Malaysia on a full scholarship to attend Wells Cathedral School, a music specialist institution in the UK, where he double-majored in piano and cello. His exceptional talent was recognized early on; in 2018, he won both the school's concerto competition and the Taunton Young Musicians competition for cello, performing as soloist with the Taunton Sinfonietta. His studies continued with esteemed mentors, including Penny Driver

from the Royal Welsh College of Music, Richard May from the Royal Academy of Music, John Byrne from the Royal College of Music, and Richard Omrod from the Royal Northern College of Music.

Since 2019, Ian has excelled as principal cellist of the prestigious Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland, collaborating with celebrated conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, Fabio Luisi, Klaus Mäkelä, Zubin Mehta, and Gianandrea Noseda. Beyond his orchestral achievements, his passion for teaching is evident in his role at West Amadeus Music Studio, where he instructs students in both cello and piano. His versatility also extends to the film and recording industries, with notable performances in Tan Dun’s H2O music video and Beyoncé’s film Renaissance.

Ian completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in cello performance at The Juilliard School, where he studied with renowned cellist and teacher Richard Aaron. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in cello performance at Michigan University, under the tutelage of Professor Amir Eldan.