Lien Boon Hua is the Artistic Director of Wayfarer Sinfonietta and newly appointed Guest Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra. Previously, he has served as Assistant Conductor of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice and Assistant Conductor to the Richard-Strauss-Festival 2018 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A prizewinner at several international conducting competitions, he was selected for the 2019/20 Peter Eötvös Foundation Mentoring Program, where he received mentorship from renowned conductors and composers to further hone his craft.
Highlights of Lien’s recent seasons include debuts with Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Ding Yi Music Company, and leading the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in a celebratory concert for Esplanade’s 20th anniversary. He has made successful debuts with Hong Kong Sinfonietta, NFM Wrocław Philharmonic, Polish Baltic Philharmonic, Kraków Philharmonic, among others. A rising opera conductor, he has led productions with Singapore Lyric Opera, Kuala Lumpur City Opera, The Opera People and Lirica Arts. He has also appeared at numerous festivals including Singapore International Festival of Arts, Thailand International Composition Festival, IntAct Festival, Gdańsk Music Festival and International Mozartiana Festival.
Lien's talent for conducting has been recognized by some of the most respected conductors in the industry, including the late Bernard Haitink, Peter Eötvös, Paavo Järvi, Cristian Măcelaru, and Stefan Asbury, who have invited him to participate in prestigious international festivals. He was also invited to masterclasses with eminent orchestras such as Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra and Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, and was named an inaugural Mahler Conducting Fellow for the Colorado MahlerFest XXIX.
In addition to his professional conducting engagements, Lien is a passionate advocate for the profound impact of music education. He has enthusiastically engaged with various youth groups such as the RondoFest Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra, Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra and Princess Galyani Institute of Music Youth Orchestra.
Lien received his doctorate in orchestral conducting at the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Neil Varon and was awarded the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize. He holds conducting and performance degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, with additional studies at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
Currently based in Singapore, he is on the conducting faculty at his alma mater, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, and leads its contemporary music ensemble, OpusNovus, where he continues to share his passion for music with the next generation of musicians.