ABOUT SARAH MEI LI

Following her graduation, Dr. Li was awarded a full scholarship to Northern Illinois University in the United States, where she studied with American pianist William Goldenberg. She later earned her Master’s degree in piano performance and continued to explore the virtuoso repertoire before completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kansas.

Her principal teachers include distinguished American pianists Jack Winerock and Steven Spooner, and she studied piano pedagogy with noted expert Scott McBride Smith. Her doctoral research, completed under the guidance of renowned Liszt scholar Alan Walker, focuses on the late works of Franz Liszt.

Dr.Li has received top prizes in multiple international piano competitions, including the International IBLA Grand Prize Competition and the International Virtuoso Grand Prize Competition.

As an active pianist and soloist, she has performed in major venues across China, including the Hong Kong Concert Hall, Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall, and Shenzhen Concert Hall. In the United States, she has appeared as a soloist at the World Conference on Women in Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Together with her distinguished chamber partners, she has been invited to perform at numerous concert halls and academic institutions throughout the United States, earning critical acclaim. She has also presented recitals and masterclasses in Mexico and participated in the American Liszt Society National Festival.

Dr. Li is a highly respected piano educator whose students have achieved remarkable success in national and international competitions. Her students have won top prizes at events such as the New York Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, the Geneva Chamber Music Competition, and the Chandler Starr Miller Scholarship Competition.

Her students have been accepted into prestigious institutions including the New England Conservatory, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the University of Melbourne, many with full scholarships. Through her individualized teaching approach, she nurtures both artistic excellence and academic achievement.

Dr. Sarah Mei Li is the CEO of the Chicago International Music Competition and Festival and Co-Founder of the International Institute of Piano Artistry. She also serves as Chair of International Events and Membership for the American Liszt Society and President of the American Liszt Institute in China. Through her leadership, artistic vision, and dedication to education, Dr. Li actively contributes to the international artistic community and the development of young musicians around the world.