Piano

Pianist Sarah Mei Li holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance and Piano Literature from the University of Kansas. Born into a musical family in China, she began her piano studies at the age of five under the guidance of renowned Chinese pedagogue Zhaoyi Dan. By age twelve, she was accepted into the prestigious Affiliated Middle School of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, where her rigorous and professional training continued. Upon completing her studies at the Sichuan Conservatory, Dr. Li earned a full scholarship to Northern Illinois University in the United States, where she studied with acclaimed American pianist Professor William Goldenberg. After obtaining her Master's degree in Piano Performance and delving into the virtuoso repertoire, she pursued her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Kansas, studying performance with distinguished American professors Jack Winerock and Steven Spooner, and pedagogy with renowned expert Scott McBride Smith.

Dr. Li is the recipient of numerous awards from five international piano competitions, including the International IBLA Music Competition in Italy and the International Virtuoso Grand Prize Competition. As an active performer and soloist, Dr. Li has graced many of China's premier stages, including the Hong Kong Concert Hall, Guangzhou Xinghai Concert Hall, and Shenzhen Concert Hall. In the United States, she has been invited to perform at prominent venues such as the World Conference on Women in Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Her chamber performances, alongside distinguished colleagues, have been praised at concert halls and academic institutions throughout the U.S. Recently, Dr. Mei Li has been invited to perform and give masterclasses in Mexico and at the North American Liszt Society Festival. A dedicated scholar, she has written her doctoral research on the late works of Franz Liszt under the mentorship of esteemed Liszt authority, Alan Walker. Dr. Li is also a member of the American Liszt Society and serves on the board of the KU American Liszt Society Chapter.