Darryl Lim
Drum Major
MacLim
Nickname:
Favourite Tune :
79th Farewell to Gibraltar
Hidden Talent :
I have the ability to WOW folks at parties with neat sleight of hand tricks!
If I had a warning label what would it be?
Beware of Flying Maces and Loud Yelling.
Journey to becoming a P&D musician :
2024 Marks my 30th year as a pipe band drummer/drum major, and my 31st year in the pipe band world. My pipe band journey began in 1993 as a young piper with The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore. I switched to drumming in 1994 and later became lead drummer, then Drum Major for my pipe band.
After moving to Canada in 2001, I joined the Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band and learnt Tenor drumming, eventually competing and winning the Grade 2 North American Pipe Band Championships in 2012. I joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pipes & Drums in 2007 and was the Principal Bass/Tenor and Drum Sergeant for the RCMP’s National Division band from 2012-2018.
In 2013, I attended the RCMP National Drum Major course and began to take on more Drum Majoring roles in the community. Since then, I have led numerous highland games, tattoos and events throughout Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada.
Not many folks in the pipe band world can claim to have played all the instruments…pipes, snare drum, tenor drum, bass drum, and now drum major. I even learnt how to perform the Highland Broadsword Dance in 2015.
It’s been an exciting journey so far and I’m looking forward to the next 30 years!
Best Band Story :
There have been so many great memories created in my 30+ years in the pipe band world. Here are 3 that stick out for me:
1. Performing at the 2015 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with the RCMP Pipes & Drums. A boyhood dream that finally became reality. I shall always remember marching onto the Castle’s Esplanade for the opening show, as well as the nightly march off down Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile to the tunes Scotland The Brave and The Black Bear.
2. Performing on stage with Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra in Ottawa along with the Ottawa Caledonian Pipes & Drums in 2018. I’ve been a big fan of Andre Rieu and the JSO for many years, and I was literally star struck and stuttering during rehearsals with the maestro himself.
3. The 2024 Glengarry Highland Games – 2 fantastic memories here. First was leading the Glengarry Highland Games Tattoo as senior Drum Major on Friday; and Second was leading the Ottawa Caledonian Pipes & Drums as we marched off the field as the Grade 5 North American Champions.