About Us

Hailed as "the best in the land" by the Straits Times, Wayfarer Sinfonietta is a Singapore-based chamber orchestra dedicated to presenting innovative and immersive performances of classical music. With a wide-ranging repertoire from contemporary music to opera, Wayfarer Sinfonietta challenges conventional concert experiences and engages new audiences by fostering a spirit of curiosity and exploration.

Their inaugural performance, The Unknown Woman, in September 2021, set the tone for their innovative approach. They skilfully wove together a dramatic narrative by seamlessly blending the works of Alma & Gustav Mahler, Zemlinsky, Busoni, and Korngold. This trend of distinctively curated presentations continued with their 2022 production, Lost Dreams, featuring the music of Berg, Webern, and Strauss, and again in 2023 with Impossible Things, an exploration of compositions from John Adams, Nico Muhly, Kaija Saariaho, and Anna Thorsvaldsdottir.

Beyond their own productions, Wayfarer Sinfonietta actively nurtures partnerships with local groups such as The Opera People and Lirica Arts. Together, they bring to life full-scale opera productions featuring the works of renowned composers like Britten, Rossini, and Bellini. Their innovative spirit has also led them to cross-genre collaborations, most notably a YouTube recording with up-and-coming jazz flutist Rit Xu and celebrated pianist/composer Kerong Chok, featuring his enthralling composition, "Waves."

By consistently pushing boundaries and reimagining the concert experience, Wayfarer Sinfonietta has established itself as a dynamic force within Singapore’s classical music scene.

Artistic Director

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 holds conducting and performance degrees from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and Eastman School of Music, where he was awarded the Walter Hagen Conducting Prize. 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.