Deaf Artist-Performer (Sign Language Arts, including Deaf Music). Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) Educator.
Deaf Interpreter-Translator.
Lily Goh is a Deaf artist-performer from Singapore whose practice spans Sign Language Arts, Deaf Music, Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) and visual storytelling.
Her artistic practice explores the relationships between music, rhythm, movement, the body, and signed language. Rather than viewing sign language only as a means of communication or access, Lily is interested in its possibilities as an artistic language and in how music can be experienced visually.
Alongside her artistic practice, Lily is an SgSL educator, Deaf interpreter-translator, and the founder of ExtraOrdinary Horizons, a Deaf-led initiative through which she has developed programmes and opportunities related to sign language, Deaf culture, the arts, education and community engagement.
An Early Journey in Sign Language and Music
Lily’s journey in sign language education began as a volunteer sign language instructor at the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf), where she taught from 2002 to 2010. Her work has since expanded across education, performance, translation, interpreting and the arts.
Music, however, has been part of Lily’s life from an even earlier age. She began learning percussion at the age of 10 and later trained in mallet percussion, piano and music theory. Her music qualifications include ABRSM Grade 8 Percussion with Merit, Grade 6 Percussion with Merit, Grade 5 Music Theory with Distinction, and Grade 5 Piano.
During her school years, she performed with the Canossian School Percussion Band and the Concert Band of St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School. She later returned to Canossian School to assist with percussion teaching, sharing her musical experience with younger students.
From Song-Signing to Deaf Music
Lily was introduced to song-signing through Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s HI! Club in 1998 and served as the club’s President in 1999/2000. She subsequently performed at numerous events representing NP HI! Club and SADeaf.
Over time, her relationship with signed performance and music developed beyond the interpretation of song lyrics. Today, Lily describes this area of her artistic practice as Deaf Music, exploring how rhythm, emotion, musicality and storytelling can be expressed through SgSL, facial expression, movement, space and the body.
Her continuing artistic questions include: What happens when sound, music and song meet the visual-spatial world of signed language? What does rhythm look like? How can music be felt and seen as well as heard?
These questions continue to inform her exploration of Deaf Music and Sign Language Arts.
Performance & Artistic Journey
Lily has performed in Singapore and internationally since 1998. In 2008, she was invited to perform at SPOTLIGHT – an Asian Festival of Inclusive Arts in Cambodia, sharing her signed music performance with an international audience.
In 2015, Lily participated in the 8th ASEAN Para Games Singapore as a performer representing ExtraOrdinary Horizons. She was also involved in the development of choreography and movement for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, contributing signed and visual expression to the large-scale multidisciplinary performances.
Her music practice has also included songwriting and interdisciplinary collaboration. She co-wrote If You Were In My Shoes with singer Audris Ho, with the work becoming a semi-finalist in the Music Video category of the UK Songwriting Contest 2015.
Today, Lily continues to develop her practice through performance, workshops, talks, artistic research and experimentation. Her interests increasingly extend to the relationships between signed language, the Deaf body, notation, sound and digital media.
Music, Media & Public Engagement
In 2004, Lily participated in the first season of Singapore Idol, becoming its first Deaf participant and progressing through two rounds. Her participation led to appearances in programmes including The Unsung Heroes on Channel 5 and The Youth Decode on Channel U.
In 2007, she received a marimba through the Talent Development Programme by Very Special Arts Singapore, providing further opportunities for her to develop her percussion practice.
Lily has also contributed to Deaf media and community initiatives, including producing news reports on stories from Asia for the international Deaf media organisation H3 World TV.
Sign Language, Education & Community
Alongside her artistic practice, Lily has contributed extensively to sign language education in Singapore. Her work has included teaching sign language, curriculum development, workshops and public education.
During her time with SADeaf, she contributed to the development of the curriculum for beginner-level Signing Exact English (SEE2) courses and undertook training in basic linguistics in sign language.
Through ExtraOrdinary Horizons, Lily continues to create opportunities for people to encounter SgSL and Deaf culture while developing her broader interests in Deaf-led artistic practice, Sign Language Arts and cultural exchange.
Education & Recognition
Lily completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology with Communication at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) in 2020.
Her contributions across Deaf advocacy, sign language, education and the arts have received recognition over the years. In 2014, she was honoured with the Singapore Woman Award, organised by MediaCorp. This prestigious award recognises extraordinary women who have made significant contributions to society and have tirelessly helped others. In 2017, she was recognised as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons, an award presented by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Singapore in recognition of young people for their achievements and contributions to society.
Most recently, Lily was named Sign Language Specialist of the Year 2026/27, receiving the category award as part of the Prestige Awards.
These recognitions form part of a journey that continues to evolve. Lily’s current artistic focus centres on developing her practice as a Deaf artist-performer, creating work informed by Deaf experience and exploring new possibilities across SgSL and Sign Language Arts.
Working with Lily
For professional engagements, collaborations, performances, workshops and speaking invitations, please refer to Lily’s Access Rider for information about communication, sign language interpretation, visual access and other access requirements.
To learn more about Lily’s professional experience and work, please visit her LinkedIn profile.
