Yundi

Yundi Li, also known as YUNDI, is a Chinese classical pianist recognised as a leading contemporary interpreter of Frédéric Chopin, who has also won praise for his interpretations of Liszt and Prokofiev. He is the winner of the XIV International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland. Born in 1982, Yundi Li was born to a non-musical family but showed a keen musical interest aged three, when he was so enthralled by an accordion performance at a shopping mall that he refused to leave. His parents bought him an accordion, which he mastered so quickly that before he was five he had won top prize at the Chongqing Children's Accordion Competition in March 1987. Yundi began learning piano at the age of seven, and two years later began studying under Dan Zhaoyi. In 2000, at 18 years old, Yundi became the youngest pianist to ever win the International Chopin Piano Competition, so securing his international fame. In recognition of his contribution to Chopin performance, the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has awarded Yundi both the Silver (2010) and Gold (2019) Gloria Artis Medals for Merit to Culture. From 2001 to 2006, Yundi studied under Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany. In 2001, Yundi became the first Chinese pianist signed by Deutsche Grammophon, recording exclusively for DG until 2008. He has also recorded for EMI and subsequently Warner Classics. Besides Chopin, his recording with Seiji Ozawa and the Berlin Philharmonic of Prokofiev’s demanding Piano Concerto No. 2 (2008) has won him acclaim, alongside his delicately articulated yet rich-toned performances of Beethoven and Mozart.