| Dr. Ning Tien |
| Cello |
Ning Tien (formly Ning Tien Scialla) is the director of New England Cello Ensemble and cellist of
Lancaster String Quartet and Faculty Piano Quartet of Keene Community Music Center. She is currently
teaching cello at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, MA, as well as Joy of Music Program in Worcester,
MA and Keene Community Music Center in Keene, NH.
Ning Tien began her musical training at a very young age. She received piano lessons from her father
and cello lessons from her mother, both of whom were professors of cello/composition at Central
Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China. Winning top ranking at 1980 national audition, she entered
Central Conservatory and transferred to Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester on a full
scholarship to study with Paul Katz and Cleveland String Quartet. She holds the Master and Bachelor
degrees in cello performance, as well as the Performer’s Certificate from University of Rochester. She
holds Doctor of Musical Arts degree in cello performance with Dennis Parker from Louisiana State
University. Her awards include the Speth and Thomas Scholar Awards, the Certificate for World VIP from
the International Interchange Press, Hong Kong, and prizes from Julia Klumpky Competition, CA, Camellia
Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition, CA, and Beijing Young Artists Competition, China.
Dr. Tien taught at Hastings College, Nebraska (2002), Columbus State University, Georgia (1997-
2002), and Kean University, New Jersey (1995-1997). The courses she offered included: cello, chamber
music, conducting, piano, string methods, theory, symphonic literature, string literature, and music
appreciation. She was co-principal cellist with the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, and served five years
as the director of the Greater Columbus Youth Orchestra, String Orchestra. She founded and directed
CELLOS OLE and University Cello Choir in Columbus (1997-2002), and taught cello and chamber music
at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Michigan (2000-2002). She coached the New Jersey Youth Orchestra, and
served three times as adjudicator for the MTNA National Solo Competitions, NJ (1995-1997).
Dr. Tien’s students have won prizes at regional, state and national competitions, including the American
String Teacher’s Association National Solo Competition, the National Festival Orchestra, all-state and all
district honors orchestras. The Columbus State University Cello Choir, directed by Dr. Tien was chosen
as one of the six chamber ensembles to perform at the 2002 GMEA in Service Conference, Georgia.
An active performer and promoter of contemporary music, Dr. Tien premiered and recorded works
written for her: Cello Concerto by Dinos Constandinides (Recording, Vestige Label), Himalaya Capriccio
by Tian Lian-Tao, and Second Sonata for Cello and Piano by John Sichel. She has appeared as a
soloist and chamber musician at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, New York; as well as Boston, Atlanta,
Rome, Athens, Vienna and Beijing. In 2000, she was a featured performer and speaker at the World
Cello Congress III, Baltimore. Her presentation was titled “Cello Music of China”. She appears in the
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002.
Lancaster String Quartet and Faculty Piano Quartet of Keene Community Music Center. She is currently
teaching cello at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, MA, as well as Joy of Music Program in Worcester,
MA and Keene Community Music Center in Keene, NH.
Ning Tien began her musical training at a very young age. She received piano lessons from her father
and cello lessons from her mother, both of whom were professors of cello/composition at Central
Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China. Winning top ranking at 1980 national audition, she entered
Central Conservatory and transferred to Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester on a full
scholarship to study with Paul Katz and Cleveland String Quartet. She holds the Master and Bachelor
degrees in cello performance, as well as the Performer’s Certificate from University of Rochester. She
holds Doctor of Musical Arts degree in cello performance with Dennis Parker from Louisiana State
University. Her awards include the Speth and Thomas Scholar Awards, the Certificate for World VIP from
the International Interchange Press, Hong Kong, and prizes from Julia Klumpky Competition, CA, Camellia
Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition, CA, and Beijing Young Artists Competition, China.
Dr. Tien taught at Hastings College, Nebraska (2002), Columbus State University, Georgia (1997-
2002), and Kean University, New Jersey (1995-1997). The courses she offered included: cello, chamber
music, conducting, piano, string methods, theory, symphonic literature, string literature, and music
appreciation. She was co-principal cellist with the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, and served five years
as the director of the Greater Columbus Youth Orchestra, String Orchestra. She founded and directed
CELLOS OLE and University Cello Choir in Columbus (1997-2002), and taught cello and chamber music
at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Michigan (2000-2002). She coached the New Jersey Youth Orchestra, and
served three times as adjudicator for the MTNA National Solo Competitions, NJ (1995-1997).
Dr. Tien’s students have won prizes at regional, state and national competitions, including the American
String Teacher’s Association National Solo Competition, the National Festival Orchestra, all-state and all
district honors orchestras. The Columbus State University Cello Choir, directed by Dr. Tien was chosen
as one of the six chamber ensembles to perform at the 2002 GMEA in Service Conference, Georgia.
An active performer and promoter of contemporary music, Dr. Tien premiered and recorded works
written for her: Cello Concerto by Dinos Constandinides (Recording, Vestige Label), Himalaya Capriccio
by Tian Lian-Tao, and Second Sonata for Cello and Piano by John Sichel. She has appeared as a
soloist and chamber musician at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, New York; as well as Boston, Atlanta,
Rome, Athens, Vienna and Beijing. In 2000, she was a featured performer and speaker at the World
Cello Congress III, Baltimore. Her presentation was titled “Cello Music of China”. She appears in the
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002.