Known for being a diverse and adventurous musician, pianist Matthew Li aims to pursue unconventional recital formats that ventures beyond the standard repertoire. He made his orchestra debut in China with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in 2006. Further concert engagements have since then extended to different parts of Canada, as well as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Austria, China and Hong Kong. Notable accomplishments from Dr. Li in recent years include the Grand Prize Winner of the Vancouver Westcoast Music Society Scholarship Competition in 2016, winner of Doctor of Music Competition in University of Toronto in 2015, and prize-winner of the 2014 Shean Competition. His further achievements include the national silver medalist of the Canadian Music Competition, winner of the Johann Strauss Scholarship Competition in University of British Columbia, and Second Place of the Indiana University (IU) Piano Concerto Competition. He was appointed Associate Instructor in piano at IU between 2008 and 2010 and served as collaborative keyboard faculty at the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy in 2018. His performance was featured on CBC Radio in 2020.

Dr. Li has a growing interest in exploring the realm of contemporary music. He collaborated with the Canadian composer Walter Buczynski and gave the world premiere performance of his piano sonatas for the composer’s 85th birthday concert in 2019. Between 2015 and 2016, he was chosen among a total number of five participants from around the world to study with the renowned soloists and champions of new music, Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Tamara Stefanovich at both the Stockhausen Music Festival in Munich, Germany, as well as the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, UK. Over the years, he attended various music festivals including the Mozarteum Sommerakademie, Centre d’Arts Orford, and the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, where he had the privilege to study with Lee Kum-Sing, Leon Fleisher, Jacques Rouvier, Arie Vardi, Robert Levin, and Menahem Pressler.

Apart from solo engagements, Dr. Li is also an active chamber musician and collaborative pianist. In 2012, he co-founded a piano duo group Duo Interplay with his wife, Melody Chan-Li, and were awarded on their debut performance the Third Place in the 2012 International Northwest Piano Ensemble Competition. By invitation from the Korean-Canadian composer Gideon Gee-Bum Kim, Mr. Li joined the Toronto Messiaen Ensemble (TME) between 2013 and 2016. During his residency, the TME has been invited as ensemble-in-residence at Colorado College and debuted in New York City. They have collaborated with leading American composers including David Crumb, Michael Fiday, and Ofer Ben-Amots.

Dr. Li is currently an active music educator and clinician based in Vancouver, Canada. His latest pedagogical engagements include being a guest lecturer at the University of Florida, Trinity Western University, as well as festival adjudicator for Ontario Registered Music Teacher’s Association Festival.

Matthew Li holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Toronto, Master of Music degree from Indiana University and Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School. His past teachers include Marietta Orlov, Sheila Hardy, Sara Davis Buechner, Arnaldo Cohen, and the last protégé of Nadia Boulanger: Emile Naoumoff.

Current as of March 2024

Photographer: Michelle Doherty

Musician: Matthew Ming Li