Cellist Si-Yan Darren Li made his professional debut at the age of 9 and has since gone on to an international career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and teacher. He has appeared in solo and chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, 92nd Street Y, Kennedy Center, Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore, Izumi Hall in Osaka, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and National Concert Hall in Taipei. Li has also performed in many renowned music festivals, including the Ravinia Festival, Verbier Festival, and Kronberg Academy Cello Festival. An active chamber musician, he has collaborated with such esteemed artists as Emanuel Ax, Leon Fleisher, Lang Lang, Thomas Quasthoff, Miriam Fried, and members of the Emerson, Takács, Juilliard, Cleveland, Casals, and Ébène quartets. His recording of the Bartók string quartets with the Euclid Quartet was highly praised by Gramophone magazine and American Recording Guide.

Li joined the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2017 and currently serves as Associate Dean of Ensembles and Chamber Music Program Director. As a dedicated pedagogue, his student ensembles have won top prizes in major international and national competitions, including the Banff International String Quartet Competition, Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, Coltman Chamber Music Competition, and Plowman Chamber Music Competition.

Li holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School and a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. In addition to Orlando Cole, his principal teachers include Fred Sherry, Harvey Shapiro, Alan Stepansky, and David Hardy. His other mentors include Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Pamela Frank, and Michael Tilson Thomas. Li is a prizewinner in numerous prestigious competitions, including the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow and the YCA International Auditions in New York. He is also a recipient of the American Masterpieces grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Li plays a 1773 cello by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, generously on loan from the private collection of Mr. and Mrs. Rin Kei-Mei.