Lamont Student Francis Lien Advances to MTNA National Finals, wins Solo Honors Competition

Lamont School of Music Newman Fellow Francis Lien (MM '27, piano) continues to distinguish himself on the national stage with a series of recent achievements.

Lien was named the winner of the West Central Division MTNA Young Artist Performance Competition, earning the opportunity to advance to the national finals at the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Conference in Chicago this March. The MTNA Young Artist Competition is one of the most prestigious performance competitions for emerging classical musicians in the United States, and advancing to the national finals places Lien among the country’s most promising young artists.

He also was named the winner of Lamont’s Solo Honors Competition, recognizing his exceptional artistry and musicianship among his peers.

Lien is a student of Dr. Stephanie Cheng, who was inducted into the Steinway Teachers Hall of Fame in 2025. 

Beyond his recent competition successes, Lien is building an international performance profile and experiencing the global reach of the Lamont community. He was recently invited to present a guest recital in Taiwan by Lamont alumnus Professor Lin Tse-Hsiung (林則雄), now on the faculty at Chienkuo Technology University. Lien and Professor Lin had been collaborating on various music projects and collaborations for two years before discovering—after Lien’s admission to Lamont—that they shared a Lamont connection.

“It really shows how strong and far-reaching the Lamont network is,” Lien noted.

These honors and collaborations reflect Lien’s remarkable technical skill, musical insight, and growing presence on the international stage. The Lamont community looks forward to cheering him on at the MTNA national finals in Chicago this spring and following his continued artistic journey.

Lien will perform Liszt’s Totentanz with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra on May 27. Learn more.