When Nathanael Koh was a year old, he was diagnosed with a condition that affected his cognitive and physical development, leaving his parents anxious that he may never function independently.
His father, Mr Chris Koh, 45, told The Straits Times: “He could not walk without help at two years old. As a child, he never spoke and if he made a sound, it was a mess of words that no one understood.”
But when the couple introduced Nathanael to books, they realised his ability to read and learn at levels far beyond those expected for his peers.
On Dec 15, at 13, he became one of the youngest students to graduate from the Australian National University (ANU), earning an honours degree in music composition with a perfect grade point average.
He also earned a high distinction in his thesis which explored the use of linear algebra to find possible harmonies and test it out.
Despite being surrounded by students twice or thrice his age, Nathanael said he has no problem coping with the academic rigours of university or fitting in with his classmates. “I could think at the same level as them, and we all communicated through our common language of music,” he said.
Nathanael started playing piano at three years old but switched to musical theory as per his teacher’s recommendation because his fingers were too weak. He later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone.
At age nine, he completed his diploma in music theory from Trinity College London. That same year, he became the youngest composer-in-residence at the Singapore’s Kids Philharmonic Orchestra.
His original compositions have since been performed by professional musicians in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Finland.
On top of his accomplishments in music, Nathanael is a member of high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) society Mensa in Singapore and New Zealand with an IQ of 132.
The Straits Times
