Lauren Adja Tian

This Fall, The Knox School welcomed a new Choral Director to the community. Concert Pianist and Conductor of Orchestras Lauren Adja Tian from the New York City area brings an eclectic artistic career of both playing and conducting orchestras. Two highlights from this career include performing around the world with piano partner Aquiles Morales of Mexico in her piano duo Duo Sartano and directing renowned orchestras including the Eastman Opera Collective, RIT Philharmonic, the University of Buffalo Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Michigan Arts Chorale.

An Alumna of the Eastman School of Music, Ms. Tian holds advanced degrees in instrumental and choral conducting. Her expansive educational background also includes degrees from California State University at Fullerton, University of Michigan and coursework at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Prior to college, she attended several boarding schools which allowed her to transition seamlessly into the Knox Community. These schools included The Waterford School, The Webb School, and Harvard-Westlake School.

Ms. Tian is the recipient of many awards and scholarships along her artistic journey. Of note, she has recently competed for the Respighi Prize in conducting and earned third place in the London Classical Soloist International Conduction Competition. In addition to her natural talent, Ms. Tian can attribute her accolades to a long list of accomplished teachers including Eduardo Delgado, Logan Skeleton, and Arthur Green, to name a few.

For Ms. Tian, the transition from an active international performer to an independent school teacher was a natural progression for her career. Both of her parents were music teachers, and she learned of her true passion for music while in high school. After seven years of extensive international travel, Ms. Tian, a mother of four, wished to settle down in one location so she could spend more time with her family. Although she continues to travel with her concert duo on school breaks, the stability of Knox-living allows Ms. Tian to pursue her other passions of reading, dancing, and meeting new people from diverse backgrounds.