Li Yongrui was the Principal Double Bassist of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra from 2015 to 2017.
He was awarded a Masters with Distinction from Universitat fur Musik und Darstellende Graz, Austria, under the tutelage of Univ.Prof Ernst Weissensteiner, Principal Double Bassist of the Vienna Symphoniker. In 2011, he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Music Performance from the University of Wales - Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) programme, under the tutelage of Singapore Symphony Orchestra double bassist Jacek Mirucki. His other teachers include Timothy Dunin (former Principal of Vienna Philharmonic) and Denton Roberts.
Yongrui began his early musical training at the age of 6 with piano as his first instrument, obtaining an ABRSM Grade 8 in less than a decade. He picked up double bass at the age of 14 after joining the Chinese Orchestra in secondary school and quickly gained an interest for the instrument. He joined NAFA’s Diploma in Music course majoring in music performance, where he trained intensively under Xu Li. He was a two-time finalist of the NAFA Music Essentials Concerto Competition in 2008 and 2011.
Yongrui was a member of The Philharmonic Orchestra, and has served as Principal on a number on a number of occasions. He has also performed with the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra (2002), Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (2010), the Orchestra of the Music Makers (2010), and re:mix (2012). He also regularly receives opportunities to perform with the Singapore Lyrical Opera (SLO) Orchestra. During his studies, he was also invited as a guest performer with the Macau Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and 2011. He has also played for The Philharmonic Winds, and achieved a Gold Award at the Singapore International Band Festival with The Philharmonic Youth Winds in 2010.
In 2011, Yongrui was selected to take part in the Asian Youth Orchestra tour, and was accepted as a participant of the Atlantic Music Festival in the United States in 2012. In 2013, he was featured as a soloist for the world premiere of ‘Pan Gu’, composed by Toh Tze Chin and accompanied by Tze n Looking Glass Orchestra. Subsequently, he was invited to perform at Vienna Concert-Verein Orchestra’s USA Concert Tour 2014, and also as a guest musician with Tonkuenstler Orchester in Vienna. At the same time, he actively performed with the Graz Recreational Orchester while in Graz. He has been was chosen as one of five candidates to attend an Elite Soloist Camp conducted by double bass master Jeff Bradetich in June 2014 at the University of North Texas. Since 2015, he has been actively performing with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as a freelance musician, and was recently invited to be Guest Principal of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2013, Yongrui was awarded the Tan Kah Kee Scholarship, and the Goh Soon Tioe Centenary Award to further his studies. In 2014 and 2015, he was awarded The Hamish Dyer Young Musicians’ Scholarship and the ‘Gifted Award’ in Graz. While in Guiyang, he was awarded the ‘Most Improved Musician’ award a year after joining the orchestra.
Yongrui will begin his position with Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra in November 2017.
Programme
J. S. Bach: Cello Suite No. 1, BWV 1007 (Minuet I & II)
Chee Jun Hong, double bass
Henry Eccles: Sonata in G minor
Yao Dun, double bass
Liu Qingqing, piano
Giovanni Bottesini: Elegy No. 1 in D major
Yeo Zeng Ying, double bass
Graziella Jasmine Lovell, piano