Singaporean conductor Lien Boon Hua is acclaimed as one of Asia's leading interpreters of contemporary music, celebrated for his stylistic versatility and emotional depth. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was invited to lead the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in a landmark concert celebrating the Esplanade’s 20th anniversary. As the founder and Artistic Director of Wayfarer Sinfonietta since 2021, Lien has established the ensemble into a dynamic force in Singapore known for its artistic excellence and bold programming.
Lien’s international conducting career spans engagements with renowned orchestras in Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 2024, his debut with the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra was highly praised, and was immediately re-invited back the following season. Additionally, he has also collaborated with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Bangkok Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra in Asia. In Europe, he has worked with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra, Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra in Cluj-Napoca. In the United States, he has conducted the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphoria in Syracuse. He has also appeared at many music festivals such as the Singapore International Festival of Arts, IntAct Festival, Thailand International
Composition Festival, Gdańsk Music Festival and International Mozartiana Festival, and received numerous invitations to participate in international conducting competitions.
Lien’s professional journey includes serving as Assistant Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra from 2016 to 2018, and as Assistant Conductor at the Richard Strauss Festival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2018. Through the Peter Eötvös Foundation Mentoring Program, he honed his skills in contemporary music under the guidance of esteemed figures such as Peter Eötvös, Heinz Holliger, Kaija Saariaho, and Hanspeter Kyburz. He has also won awards in several international conducting competitions, including second prize at the Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition in 2018.
Alongside symphonic and contemporary repertoire, Lien has demonstrated exceptional talent in various musical fields. In 2024, he was appointed as Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra, delving into his cultural roots and the rich tapestry of Asian music. Furthermore, Lien has rapidly risen as an opera conductor, regularly leading acclaimed productions with regional companies such as Singapore Lyric Opera, Kuala Lumpur City Opera, The Opera People, and Lirica Arts.
Lien’s talent has earned him invitations to prestigious international festivals and recognition from esteemed figures in the industry, including the late Bernard Haitink and Peter Eötvös, as well as Paavo Järvi, Cristian Măcelaru, and Tsung Yeh. His participation in masterclasses with eminent orchestras such as the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Strings, and Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra further attests to his standing. Additionally, he was named an inaugural Mahler Conducting Fellow for the Colorado MahlerFest XXIX.
Dedicated to nurturing young musicians, Lien has taught at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music since 2019, where he leads the contemporary music ensemble OpusNovus. Lien has introduced diverse contemporary works to Singaporean audiences and is a strong advocate for Asian composers. Under his leadership, OpusNovus embarked on its maiden tour to Australia in 2023. In 2024, Lien was also appointed as Visiting Lecturer of Large Ensembles at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music. He has also worked with youth orchestras such as the ASEAN-Russian Youth Orchestra, RondoFest Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra, and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music Youth Orchestra.
Lien holds a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Neil Varon and received the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize. His academic journey includes degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, with additional studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
Lien’s international conducting career spans engagements with renowned orchestras in Asia, Europe, and the United States. In 2024, his debut with the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra was highly praised, and was immediately re-invited back the following season. Additionally, he has also collaborated with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Bangkok Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra in Asia. In Europe, he has worked with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Polish Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra, Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra in Cluj-Napoca. In the United States, he has conducted the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphoria in Syracuse. He has also appeared at many music festivals such as the Singapore International Festival of Arts, IntAct Festival, Thailand International
Composition Festival, Gdańsk Music Festival and International Mozartiana Festival, and received numerous invitations to participate in international conducting competitions.
Lien’s professional journey includes serving as Assistant Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra from 2016 to 2018, and as Assistant Conductor at the Richard Strauss Festival in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 2018. Through the Peter Eötvös Foundation Mentoring Program, he honed his skills in contemporary music under the guidance of esteemed figures such as Peter Eötvös, Heinz Holliger, Kaija Saariaho, and Hanspeter Kyburz. He has also won awards in several international conducting competitions, including second prize at the Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition in 2018.
Alongside symphonic and contemporary repertoire, Lien has demonstrated exceptional talent in various musical fields. In 2024, he was appointed as Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra, delving into his cultural roots and the rich tapestry of Asian music. Furthermore, Lien has rapidly risen as an opera conductor, regularly leading acclaimed productions with regional companies such as Singapore Lyric Opera, Kuala Lumpur City Opera, The Opera People, and Lirica Arts.
Lien’s talent has earned him invitations to prestigious international festivals and recognition from esteemed figures in the industry, including the late Bernard Haitink and Peter Eötvös, as well as Paavo Järvi, Cristian Măcelaru, and Tsung Yeh. His participation in masterclasses with eminent orchestras such as the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Strings, and Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra further attests to his standing. Additionally, he was named an inaugural Mahler Conducting Fellow for the Colorado MahlerFest XXIX.
Dedicated to nurturing young musicians, Lien has taught at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music since 2019, where he leads the contemporary music ensemble OpusNovus. Lien has introduced diverse contemporary works to Singaporean audiences and is a strong advocate for Asian composers. Under his leadership, OpusNovus embarked on its maiden tour to Australia in 2023. In 2024, Lien was also appointed as Visiting Lecturer of Large Ensembles at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music. He has also worked with youth orchestras such as the ASEAN-Russian Youth Orchestra, RondoFest Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra, and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music Youth Orchestra.
Lien holds a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Neil Varon and received the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize. His academic journey includes degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, with additional studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.