Xinyi (Elysia) Li started learning piano before the age of 5. After a few years, she took piano more seriously and developed a strong passion for it. At the age of 11, Elysia decided to study piano performance for her university degree and hopefully become a concert pianist. In July 2022, Elysia participated the 4th Franz Liszt International Youth Piano Competition in China and achieved 3rd prize in Beijing. Elysia is now 16 and living in Brisbane. Since 2024, has participated many competitions such as the 2024 Sydney Eisteddfod and the 2024 Queensland Piano Competition. In 2025, she won second place in the Redlands Eisteddfod 15-18 years solo category and won a first place and a third place at the Enoggera Eisteddfod. She has also participated the Steinway Online National Piano Competition and frequently records her playing. Other than being a soloist, she has also participated in many chamber music ensembles. Last year, she played Ubi Caritas and Dimitri Shostakovich’s second waltz with her school chamber orchestra at St John’s Cathedral. Apart from music, Elysia is also heavily involved in her academics. She has won high distinction prizes at Math Competitions such as the Australian Mathematics Competition and the KSF Maths Competition. In 2023, she was awarded the highest individual score in the Australian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiad. In Semester 2 2025, Elysia was offered a place to study Philosophy at the University of Queensland through the Enhanced Studies Program commencing study when she was only 15 and completing the course with distinction. Elysia also has a strong passion for other art forms such as Visual Art. In 2024, she was selected as one of the 21 students from Queensland to attend the Creative Generation Summer Workshop at GOMA. Her painting in this workshop has also been displayed via one of GOMA’s digital exhibitions. More recently, her painting was displayed as a part of the 2025 Queensland Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art and was awarded a Commendation Award. Elysia hopes to develop her artistry both through music and her other interests that she is continuously exploring.
Watch Xinyi (Elysia) Li perform Ballade No.2 in F Major Op.38 by F. Chopin for the 2026 International Piano Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.