Li Weigang

Born into a family of well-known musicians in Shanghai

Weigang Li began studying the violin with his parents Keqiang Li and Huier Chen when he was 5 and went on toattend the Shanghai Conservatory Middle School at age 14.Three years later, in 1981,he was selected to go to study forone year at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music throughthe first cultural exchange program between the sister citiesof Shanghai and San Francisco.in 1985,upon graduatingfrom the Shanghai Conservatory, Weigang Li left China to continue his studies at Northern lllinois University and latestudied and taught at the Juilliard School.

Besides hisparents, other important teachers have included ShmueAshkenasi,Tan Shu-Chen,Li Mu-Zhen, Robert Mann andsadore Tinkleman, Mr. Li was featured in the 1980 Oscar winning documentaryfilm From Mao to Mozart: lsaac Stern in China. He made his solcdebut at 17 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and hasappeared as soloist with Shanghai Symphony, ChinaPhilharmonic,Guangzhou Symphony, Hang zhou Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony and Asian YouthOrchestra.

Weigang Li is a founding member and first violinist of theworld-renowned Shanghai Quartet since 1983. Now in its41st season, the Shanghai Quartet has performed nearly3000 concerts in 35 countries and recorded over 30 CDalbums,including a highly acclaimed 7-disc set of completeBeethoven string quartets on Camerata label.

In the fall of 2020,Weigang Li joined Tianjin Juilliard Schooas resident faculty of violin and chair of chamber musicdepartment.He also holds the title of quest concert-masterof Shanghai Symphony Orchestra since 2009. Mr. Li has beenan artist-in-residence at Montclair State University for 19years and a violin professor at Bard College Conservatory ofVusic for 16 years.