Siyi Xu started learning piano when she was 5 and a half. She has won several prizes in piano performance competitions, including twice the first prize in the United States International Duo Piano Competition in 2022 and 2023; first prize in the 2024 Charleston Spring Music Competition; first prize in the 2024 Charleston 19th Century Music Competition, the Gold medal in the 2024 Classical Viennese Festival and the Silver medal in the 2024 Virtuoso Artist Festival organized by the Seattle Piano International Festival (SIPF); second prize in the 2023 Charleston Romantic Music Competition; and second place in the 2023 Crescendo International Music Competition. She had studied piano with Ms. Yunqing Zhang for 4 and a half years and she started studying with Dr. Ivona Kaminska Bowlby in October 2023. Beyond her passion for music and piano, Siyi is also an avid reader, a big fan of Harry Potter, and enjoys swimming, rock climbing, and badminton.
Eli Li, a 5th grader starting in fall 2024, began his musical journey at age 5 and has been studying with Dr. Christopher Bowlby since September 2023. His remarkable talent has earned him numerous awards in international competitions. In 2024 alone, Eli secured first place at the Barum International Music Competition, the Crescendo International Music Competition, and the Classical Viennese Festival. He also achieved first place three times at the United States International Duo Piano Competition (2022 and 2023), and first place at the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition Ensemble in 2023. Additionally, he was a semi-finalist at the Seattle International Piano Competition in 2022.
Eli performs both solo and in duet with his partner, Siyi Xu. His impressive performances have taken him to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and Benaroya Hall in the Seattle area, as well as various “Chopin and Beyond” concerts, where his artistry continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Outside of his musical pursuits, Eli enjoys reading, swimming, robotics, math, skiing, and hiking.
You can find the duet’s 2024 Summer Music Competition performance here.