Born in Melbourne in 2007, Christian Li first picked up a violin aged five. He captured international attention in 2018 when he became the youngest-ever winner of the Menuhin Competition, winning the joint Junior 1st Prize in Geneva where he play-conducted a movement of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Performing with the Geneva Chamber Orchestra, he also received the Audience Prize and the Composer Award.

Since 2021, Christian has held the title of Young Artist in Association with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs with the orchestra as a soloist and chamber musician. He has made a series of acclaimed debuts with ensembles including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Gavle Symphony, Aalborg Symphony, RTV Slovenian Radio Symphony and Macao Orchestra, and gave recitals in Taiwan, Canada, Israel, Norway and the UK.

Building on a 2025/26 season of prominent European appearances, Christian’s 2026/27 highlights include Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Opéra Orchestra National Montpellier, George Enescu Philharmonic in Bucharest and the Kraków Philharmonic. In February 2027 Christian will perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, and later in the season he will return to Vancouver to perform a recital at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.

Christian has released three albums for Decca Classic. His latest, Tchaikovsky (February 2025) marked his ‘coming of age’ era. David Nice for BBC Music Magazine praised him, noting “Another world-class violinist has arrived on the scene” while Thomas May for Gramophone stated that “alongside a technique that is astonishingly advanced and consistent for a musician his age, the teenage Li conveys a sense of heartfelt connection on this all-Tchaikovsky programme – a quality not always in reliable supply even from the most seasoned of violinists.”

Christian’s debut album, featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons alongside by works for violin and piano by Bazzini, Kreisler, Massenet and Li Zilli earned five-star reviews, with BBC Music Magazine highlighting that “He brings thrilling virtuosity and myriad colours to Vivaldi’s fast movements and an exquisitely silky cantabile sound to the aria-like slow movements”. Following this success, Christian’s second album Discovering Mendelssohn released in 2023 received a glowing review from Gramophone magazine.

Christian studies with Dr. Robin Wilson in Melbourne and at the Yehudi Menuhin School. He also receives mentorship from David Takeno in London. He plays on the “Crespi” 1699 Antonio Stradivari violin generously loaned to him by Dr David Li through the Beare’s International Violin Society. In his free time, he enjoys reading, swimming and bike riding.