Joy’s long road from childhood piano to Emmy award

2026-03-16 - 23:14

Joy Ngiaw says her younger self would be proud of her achievements today. (Joy Ngiaw pic) LOS ANGELES: Her heart trembled with trepidation. Her breathing grew slow and heavy, not knowing what would happen next. And then, the moment came. The announcement. “The award goes to ...”. When her name was announced, Joy Ngiaw needed a second to process it. “I was in absolute shock!” the 31-year-old shared with FMT Lifestyle. “Our category was stacked with incredible composers whom I deeply admire, and I already felt so proud just to be nominated alongside them.” Then it sank in. “When they called my name, I was flooded with emotions ... gratitude, disbelief, and joy all at once. It was such a surreal moment,” Ngiaw, a film scoring degree graduate from Berklee College of Music, said. And just like that, this Pahang lass from the sleepy town of Kemayan became the first Malaysian to win a Children’s & Family Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for the Apple TV+ animated series “WondLa”. Ngiaw is the first Malaysian to win an Emmy award for her work. (Joy Ngiaw pic) “Growing up, it was hard to imagine someone from where I came from being part of Hollywood, let alone being the first Malaysian to win an Emmy,” the oldest of two siblings said. “It brings me immense pride, and to be able to represent Malaysia on that stage feels incredibly meaningful.” Long before the Emmy stage and international recognition, Ngiaw was simply a child trying to understand her feelings through music. She grew up in a “musical and supportive family”, filling her days with piano, singing, dance and art – but the piano quietly became her refuge. “Piano was the one that really stayed with me. As a very emotional and sensitive kid, music became my way of expressing myself,” the Los Angeles-based Ngiaw shared. While she trained in classical piano, she often found herself “improvising and composing, playing whatever emotion I was feeling, especially when it was hard to put into words.” Those early moments at the piano became her first attempts at storytelling. “That’s when I realised music could be a way to tell stories, express emotions, and connect with others,” Ngiaw, who was named a Bafta Breakthrough USA honouree in 2024, added. Ngiaw says the storytelling aspect of scoring draws her to her work. (Joy Ngiaw pic) In fact, her love for storytelling began in the living room, watching animated classics like “The Lion King”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “Mulan”, whose music revealed to her how powerful storytelling through sound can be. “Music is such an essential part of filmmaking,” she said. “If my music can move someone emotionally or make them feel a little less alone, that truly means the world to me.” During her time with choirs and orchestras throughout her school years, one teacher in particular helped her see her potential more clearly. “She noticed that I spent a lot of time improvising and writing my own music, and told me that it seemed like that was where my heart truly was,” Ngiaw said. “That encouragement helped me start seeing composing as something I’d want to pursue.” Ngiaw scored her first studio project – Skydance Animation’s first short film “Blush” on Apple TV+ – during the pandemic. Some of her other projects include Netflix’s “June & Kopi” and “Rescued by Ruby”, “Barbie Mysteries”, and this year’s romantic comedy film “Solo Mio”. She hopes to collaborate with directors like Adele Lim, co-writer of the “Crazy Rich Asians” film adaptation and to “continue telling stories that reflect diverse voices and experiences”. Ngiaw says the world needs more diverse voices and stories. (Joy Ngiaw pic) Away from work, Ngiaw finds grounding in simple joys. “Spending quality time with my partner and friends, being in nature, and traveling always bring me joy,” she said. Those everyday moments keep her connected to the emotions that first drew her to music. And perhaps that is why, even with an Emmy now on her shelf, she still carries the same hope she had as a child at the piano. “I think my younger self would be incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved,” said Ngiaw. “I would give her a big hug, because I know how much she sometimes doubted herself for being such a sensitive and emotional person.” As for other young Malaysians dreaming of working in global creative industries today, her advice is simple. “Trust that you have a story to tell, and trust in your own voice,” she said. “Everyone’s perspective is unique, and the world needs more diverse voices and stories.” Follow Joy Ngiaw on Instagram.