Dr. Ning Tien is daughter of the famed cello Professor Song Tao and composer/ethnomusicologist Professor Tian Liantao at the Central Conservatory of Music, China. She studied piano and cello with her parents. By 17, she was accepted as a cellist with the National Opera Orchestra, and by 19, she entered the Central Conservatory, Beijing, winning the top spot in the national audition. She came to the United States to continue her studies with cellist of the Cleveland String Quartet, Paul Katz at University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music on a full scholarship (B.A., M.A. and Performer’s Certificate), and with Dennis Parker at Louisiana State University (D.M.A. with minor in Theory). She is the recipient of Julia Klumpke Award, Camellia Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, Concerto Competitions in CSUS and LSU, and Beijing Young Artist Competition, China.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Tien has served on the faculties of Hastings College, Columbus State University, and Kean University. She also taught cello for three summers at Blue Lake Summer Camp, Michigan. She was invited as a presenter at World Cello Congress III, Baltimore in 2000; and was recognized in Who’s Who among America’s Teachers in 2002. She was the principal cellist with the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra in the celebration concert at Lincoln Center for the reunification of Hong Kong, co-principal cellist with the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and cellist of the Columbus Piano Quartet. Dr. Tien married Professor Leonard van der Kuijp of Harvard University and moved to MA in 2002. In 2008, she presented “Contemporary Music by Tibetan and Chinese Composers” to the NEH Summer Institute at Holy Cross College. In 2014, she founded the Omaggio Duo with pianist Monica Tessitore and toured China and Brazil. In 2015, he group released two CDs, “Music of Three Continents” and “Himalaya Rhapsody”. In 2016, Dr. Tien founded the Forte Duo with pianist Roy Imperio and released a CD “Music from Four Continents” in 2017. She is currently on the faculty at the Joy of Music Program, the Groton Hill Music Center, and the Wachusett High School.
Dr. Tien’s students have achieved international, national and regional recognition by winning the top prizes at The Royal Conservatory of Canada, Level 10 Examination, International Music Competition Grand Prize Virtuoso, Rome, the Crescendo International Music competition, American String Teacher’s Association National Solo Competition, Carnegie Hall National Festival Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra 2, Bay State String Contest, Music Worcester Young Artist Competition, All-State Festival Orchestras of MA, NH and GA, and both senior and junior divisions of the MMEA Central District Festival Orchestra.
Dr. Tien premiered and recorded the following works written for her: Cello Concerto by Dinos Constandinides, Himalaya Capriccio by Tien Lian Tao and Song Tao, Twelve Animal Signs of the Zodiac by Siren Nadamide, and Second Sonata for Cello and Piano by John Sichel. She has made solo and chamber music appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center in New York, and concertized in cities cross the continents. In 2009, Dr. Tien performed with The College of Holy Cross, Department of Theater in an original dance and drama “Mimpi” at the 31st Bali Arts Festival, in Bali, Indonesia. The Jakarta Post wrote: “Another exceptional contribution to the performance was made by Ning Tien, whose cello filled the air with tones of exquisite melancholy.”
For more information on Dr. Ning Tien please consult: www.celloandstrings.net.
