Li Alex Kelvin

Originally from Taipei, Li graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong School of Architecture with a minor in music studies and holds a Master’s in Architecture. In addition to composing, Li is a graphic designer and photographer. He began learning violin at the age of eight and at the age of nine was introduced to the erhu by instructor Yang Jin-hui; he then went on to study under Chen Ru-qi, Xiao Baiyong, Liang Wen-bing, Zhang Chongxue, and Shao Lin. 

Formerly the concertmaster of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra Youth Symphony, Principal Zhonghu of the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, Li is currently a erhu virtuoso of the Hsinchu Youth Chinese Orchestra. Li has also received several accolades in music competitions, earning first place in group B for middle school solo erhu performance at the Taiwan Academic Centinnieal music performance contest, and earning gold at the Youth Music Cup of the 2014 Cross-Straits Folk Music Contest. In 2017 Li gave the first performance of the piece Fuse by Hong Kong composer Austin Yip.

Li first became interested in music composition and arrangement through his friend Wong Ching-yin. In 2020 Li completed the musique concrete piece Station 4, and the piece Daylight for dizi, piano, and percussion. Li’s composition for zhongruan ensemble, Voyage, earned second place in the HCYCO Young Composers Competition, and he was named the Taiwanese Best Composer; Li then continued his studies with Liu Chih-hsuan. In 2022, Li’s chamber music composition The Wayfarer of Mountain and City was included in the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s ‘Music from the Heart‘ concert; Li was commissioned by Li Mingjie to write the piece The Windrunner for erhu and piano, by Ceng Yuyin to compose the piece Detour to the Mountains for suona ensemble, and by Lin Yanxing to write the piece The Isolated - An Ode to Erhu.