Overture Magazine: 2017-2018 Season January-February 2018 | Page 50

IMPROMPTU Qing Li VIOLIN COMING FULL CIRCLE Growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution, it was understood that Qing Li would be a classically trained musician. “Before he was married, my father said his child would be a great violinist,” says Li. “So I always knew I was going to be a professional musician.” Li is the featured soloist in the BSO’s presen- tation of The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, one of the pieces programmed for February’s Family and Education concerts. “It’s in my blood, I grew up with it,” she says of the work. “In China, the piece is known to one billion out of 1.3 billion people. It’s the equivalent of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in familiarity.” Li came to the U.S. at age 19 to study at Peabody. “Though I was trained as a soloist from the age of four and competed at a high level during my teens, I didn’t fully understand that the violin is a musical language. My true musical journey began at 26 when I joined the BSO.” As if playing with the BSO, teaching at Peabody and flying to Asia for recruitment weren’t enough, Li is also very active with the Piatigorsky Foundation. Named after legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, the non-profit foundation’s mission is to make live classical music part of everyday life for communities throughout the U.S. The foundation covers 20 states, including geographically isolated areas. “We average 7 or 8 concerts per 8-day tour,” says Li. “It’s been incredible to drive through the country while presenting live music in schools, art centers and senior homes.” 48 OV E R T U R E / BSOmusic.org In addition to serving as Principal Second Violin with the BSO, Li is now in her second year as one of Peabody’s Faculty Artists, and she recently completed her first solo recital at the Conservatory. Beyond maintaining a studio of 11 students, Li also travels frequently to Asia to actively recruit new talent for the school. “I was one of these kids—they’re just like me all those years ago. It’s full circle for me.” She has also participated in a new international project at Carnegie Hall, called NYO-China, in which she trains the next generation of young Chinese musicians during her summer breaks.