Li Wenzhou | Violin Teacher

Wen Zhou Li is originally from China where he was educated at the Central Broadcasting Institute in Beijing and, after graduating, joined the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. In 1982 he left China to farther his musical education in USA and Canada. During his 6 years in North America, Mr. Li performed with many orchestras as well as regularly giving recitals and chamber music concerts. His talent as a violin teacher was discovered and nurtured by his professor, Mauricio Fuks when he was studying at the McGill University, Montreal, Canada. From 1986 he became Professor Fuks’ assistant at McGill University. In 1988, at the invitation of Yehudi Menuhin, Mr. Li came to England with his professor to teach at the Yehudi Menuhin School and after 8 years of closely working with Yehudi Menuhin, he was regarded as one of the most successful violin teachers in the UK. From 1996, Mr. Li has furthered his teaching career by taking on a Violin Professor and Principal Violin Tutor position at the Royal Northern College of Music and Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, UK.

During the last 30 years of teaching in the UK, his students have been successful in getting important positions in orchestras and string quartets across the world. Many of them were the prizes winners of international violin competitions, such as Menuhin, Tchiakovsky, Wieniawsky and Royal Overseas League. Nationally his students won the gold medals at the LSO Competition, Audi and Texaco Young Musician of the Year competitions. During a period of 12 years, there always was at least one of his pupils in the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition and twice his pupil won the title of the BBC Young Musician of the Year. He was featured in a Channel Four television documentary programme called "Learning with Mr. Li", which focused on his teaching at the Chetham's School of Music. He gives regular masterclasses in USA, Canada and throughout the UK as well as throughout China. Mr. Li was the founder of "International Violin Sonata Course" and he also teaches in summer schools across Europe, UK, Ireland and North America.