Dr. Li, Songwen is among the most recognized pianists and pedagogues in the piano community in China. Currently he is serving as a full professor and the chairman at the Piano Department, Guangzhou Xinghai Conservatory of Music, also the Dean of Music Department at the Southern College of Sun Yat-Sen University, and the Vice Chairman of the China National Piano Society.
As both a performer and educator, Dr. Li is frequent engaged in concerts and academic activities both in- and outside of China, including performing solo recitals in Guangzhou, Beijing , Shenzhen , Hong Kong , Zhongshan, Shunde, Tianjin, Vienna and Eisenstadt of Austria, and Manchester of England. As one of the most sought-after teachers of his generation in the country, Li’s pupils have won top awards in numerous high-level professional competitions. As an active member on the musical scene in China and abroad, he has organized, taught or coordinated in numerous high profile academic activities and master classes in important musical centers such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Vienna, Manchester, working together with world-renowned musicians such as Paul Badura-Skoda, Dmitri Bashkirov, Boris Berman, Peter Donohoe, Leslie Howard, etc…
Mr. Li, Songwen entered the pre-college division of the world-renowned Beijing Central Conservatory of Music at the age of 12, and 6 years later was accepted by the college division of the conservatory with a top ranking. His teacher was Li, Qi-Fang, one of the most sought after teachers in China. Being awarded a full scholarship, Mr. Li continued his studies in the United States, where he was enrolled in the master’s degree program at the Louisiana State University under the direction of Dr. Jack Guerry and in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of North Texas under world-renowned concert pianist and pedagogue Joseph Banowetz. Besides winning a number of prizes in high level competitions as part of his professional achievements in this period, Li Songwen became an all around musician with extensive experience in a wide range of musical fields such as symphony, opera, chamber music and both orchestral and choral conducting.
Li, Songwen is actively engaged in academic explorations. He has published articles in professional publications such as the Journal of Music in China (based in Los Angeles, U.S.) , The Xinghai Music Quarterly, and Piano Artistry magazine. His book , “East Meets West, the Nationalistic Elements in Chen Yi’s Music,” was published in 2006.