Biography

Born in Sichuan, China, Jiachen Li began piano studies at the age of seven. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Professor Wang Mai and developed a strong foundation in both solo and collaborative playing.

Seeking broader musical horizons, Jiachen moved to the United States, earning a performance certificate from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Music from Cleveland State University, where he received a full scholarship and the Joan Terri Ronis Award for excellence as a graduate assistant. He recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Alabama under the mentorship of Dr. Kevin Chance. His former teachers include Thomas Rosenkranz, Solungga Liu, Joela Jones, and Angelin Chang.

Jiachen is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) through the Music Teachers National Association. Since beginning his teaching career in Cleveland, he has taught over 50 students from a wide range of backgrounds and levels. In summer 2025, he served as a piano instructor at the Salvation Army Florida Summer Conservatory, working with young students in a vibrant and supportive camp environment. He has also presented at regional and national conferences, including the 2024 MTNA National Conference, where he co-presented the “Concert for Joy” community engagement project, and he has adjudicated for NFMC festivals in both Ohio and Alabama.

As a collaborative artist, Jiachen has extensive experience performing with vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. He served as rehearsal pianist for the University of Alabama Opera Theatre (2022–2023) and worked as a full-time graduate assistant for the University of Alabama School of Theater and Dance. He recently performed with violinist Daniel Torres as part of the Washington International Young Artist Music Series at the Catholic University of America.

His honors include first prize in the 2024 Alabama Music Teachers Association Competition (Graduate Division) and third prize in the 2021 MASNO Virtuoso International Competition (Young Artist Division).

Jiachen is excited to begin a new chapter in Florence, South Carolina, where he will join the faculty of Southside Middle School as a piano teacher for the 2025–2026 school year.