Hongxi Li

Chinese pianist Hongxi Li is a versatile concert artist, solo and collaborative performer, educator and passionate art lover who has been recognized for her “rock-solid technique and strong interpretive instincts,” who is “highly gifted” and “is clearly a talent to watch” (South Florida Classical Review). Hailing from a cross-cultural background with influences from both Korea and China, Li’s diverse roots have provided her a profound and distinctive insight into music’s many cultures. She has premiered new works, collaborated with world-renowned artists, and her performances have brought her to China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as Boris Berman, Jerome Lowenthal, Alexander Shtarkman, and Marc Silverman, among others. Highlights of her numerous awards and prizes include the 2025 Presser Graduate Music Awards from the Presser Foundation, Steinway Award from the Mannes School of Music in collaboration with Steinway and Sons New York, First Prize at the 59th Japan International Music Competition, Third Prize at the Junior Thousand Island International Piano Competition, as well as top prizes in New England Conservatory’s Honors Competitions and the “Cadenza” Cup National Youth Piano Competition in Beijing, China. Her expanding career has brought her to such renowned venues as Jordan Hall, the Stiefel Concert Hall, Williams Hall, the Maurice Gusman Hall, and Changsha Concert Hall. As a winner of the 2023 concerto competition at the Frost School of Music, Li performed as soloist in Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 54. Li began her musical studies at age 4, preparing her for the preparatory division for gifted children at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing for middle and high school students. In 2020, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory, earning a coveted spot on the Dean’s list after having studied with Meng- Chieh Liu and Gabriel Chodos. Her dedication and talent led her to receive the President’s Scholarship for further studies at Mannes School of Music at The New School, where she earned her master’s degree under the tutelage of the Grammy- nominated pianist Eteri Andjaparidze. Li has recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami, under the tutelage of Naoko Takao. As part of her final project, she created an immersive, multidisciplinary piano recital featuring the works of Chinese-American composer Chen Yi, supported by the 2025 Presser Graduate Music Award. A documentary capturing the full journey behind this project is currently in production.

I love teaching piano because music has a quiet way of helping us understand ourselves. Through learning the piano, students begin to notice how they think, how they listen, how they respond to challenges, and how they express what words cannot always say. For me, teaching is not only about helping a student play better. It is also about creating a space for discovery, patience, confidence, and personal growth. Every student brings a different personality, story, and way of connecting with music, and I enjoy helping each student find their own voice through the instrument. Whether a student is beginning piano for the first time, returning after a break, or preparing for a performance, I hope each lesson becomes an experience where they feel encouraged, challenged, and more connected to both music and themselves.