About
YiQiao Li, recognized for her musical talent and heartfelt artistry, embraces versatility as a pianist. Li enjoys performing as a soloist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, and educator.
A laureate of top prizes in international competitions, YiQiao has achieved distinction in numerous international competitions, a winner of First Prize at the Malaysia Chopin International Music Competition, Gold Prize at the First WPTA Finland International Piano Competition, and Third Prize at the Oberlin International Piano Competition (China Regional). Her exceptional pianism has also been acknowledged by prestigious competitions such as the Walter W. Naumburg International Piano Competition and the Serge & Olga Koussevitzky Piano Competition. Additionally, she has been honored as a winner of the Oberlin Conservatory Honor’s Concerto Competition and the Honor’s Competition at the New England Conservatory of Music. Recently, Li was selected as a 2024 artist fellow at The Gilmore Festival.
An enthusiastic soloist and chamber musician, YiQiao has collaborated with the Texas Festival Orchestra, Oberlin Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles and choirs across the U.S. Her concerto performance with the Oberlin Orchestra was broadcast on the Cleveland WCLV Classical Music Channel. She has worked with esteemed pianists, composers, and conductors such as Muza Rubackyte, Joan Tower, Carl St. Claire, Raphael Jimenez, and Charles Peltz. YiQiao has performed actively at prominent musical venues in the U.S., including Klavierhause, Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Festival Concert Hall (TX.) She played her public solo debut recital at Kreeger Auditorium (MD) in 2022.
In addition to her performances, YiQiao is deeply committed to piano pedagogy, guiding students of diverse backgrounds and ages. She has successfully mentored students with a structural approach, helping them develop skills and achieve academic milestones. As an educator, YiQiao fosters a supportive and communicative classroom environment where students can explore their musical personalities and cultivate their artistic potential. In 2024, YiQiao served as a judge for the Saul Roas Memorial Scholarship Competition, organized by the Prince George’s Music Teachers Association in Maryland, and will assume the role of chair for the competition in 2025. YiQiao has held teaching positions as a secondary piano instructor at Rutgers University and as staff faculty at Morgan State University in Baltimore, enriching the music department with her teaching and coaching. Currently, YiQiao serves on the piano faculty at the International School of Music in Maryland.
Besides her roles as a musician and educator, YiQiao is also a talented producer. The piano album, Masks under the Mask, will be released by Centaur Records in 2025.
Born in Harbin and raised in Beijing, China, YiQiao began studying the piano at the age of four. At eleven, she was admitted to the Middle School of China Conservatory of Music for formal piano training. YiQiao earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University, a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and both a Master of Music degree and Graduate Diploma from New England Conservatory of Music. She has studied under the guidance of esteemed teachers including Larissa Dedova, Vladimir Valjarevic, Robert Shannon, and Janice Weber.
(updated 2024)
