Chien-Kwan Lin

Chien-Kwan Lin (1972, Singapore) holds degrees from the New England Conservatory (BM, MM) and the Eastman School of Music (Performer’s Certificate, DMA).  His teachers have included Ken Radnofsky and Ramon Ricker.

Chien-Kwan Lin has appeared as soloist and guest artist with the United States Navy Band, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, New World Symphony, Beijing Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, Sichuan Philharmonic, Thailand Philharmonic, and Rochester Chamber orchestra.

Mr. Lin’s performances have garnered excellent reviews by critics in New York and Boston. His critically-acclaimed Carnegie Hall recital prompted New York Concert Review to portray him as a performer “who has the passion and restraint and beautiful sense of line to take melody where it wants to go, fully and generously,” while the Boston Globe has lauded him for “displaying chops,” and described his playing as “polished,” “charismatic,” and “appealing.” 

Mr. Lin’s recording of Lei Liang’s Memories of Xiaoxiang for Alto Saxophone & Tape (Mode) was selected among “Amazon.com: Best 20th/21st Century Classical of 2009,” and his recording of Liang’s Xiaoxiang Concerto with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP/sound) was named a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in 2015.

Recent appearances by Mr. Lin have included the World Saxophone Congress, North American Saxophone Alliance, Asia Saxophone Congress, Vienna Sax Fest, Atlanta Saxophone Day, and the U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. He has presented master classes across the US and internationally, including the Paris Conservatory (CNSMDP), Manuel Castillo Conservatory of Seville (Spain), National Taipei University for the Arts, Mahidol University (Thailand), as well as major conservatories and universities across China.

Mr. Lin is currently Professor of Saxophone at the Eastman School of Music, where he is also founding director of the Eastman Saxophone Project (ESP), and recipient of the 2012-2013 Eisenhart Award for Excellence in Teaching.  His students have won more than fifty major national and international prizes, including four First Prizes at the North American Saxophone Alliance Competition, four Gold Medals at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, twelve First Prizes at the Music Teachers National Association Competition, Grand Prizes at both the Coleman and Plowman Chamber Music Competitions, as well as top prizes at the Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition. Mr. Lin’s former students hold collegiate teaching positions, and are members of premier military bands in Washington, D.C., including ‘The President’s Own’ US Marine Band, the US Navy Band, and the US Army Band ‘Pershing’s Own’ Ceremonial and Concert Bands.