Arizona Opera Cast Members & Creatives

This past season pianist/coach served as coach and chorus master for Wolf Trap Opera Company’s Carmen at the Filene Center, as well as playing WTOC’s multi-genre Vocal Colors program at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC. Mr. Li also served as conductor and pianist for Houston Grand Opera’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht, featuring a new work by HGO alumnus David Hanlon. Other engagements for the season include recitals with soprano Tamara Wilson and bass-baritone Ryan McKinny and performing with the Houston Ballet and the Houston Chamber Choir.

In recent summer seasons Mr. Li served as music director for Le nozze di Figaro andRoméo et Juliette for the Bar Harbor Music Festival. He also was coach and chorus master for the Wolf Trap Opera Company’s Don Giovanni and pianist for WTOC’s Vocal Colors. Mr. Li regularly performs cabaret and jazz as well at various venues including The Dallas Museum of Art, The Cullen Theater, and Ovations Night Club.

An alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, Mr. Li coached several operas at Houston Grand Opera including Dead Man Walking, Lohengrin, La fille du regiment, La bohème, Béatrice et Bénédict, the world premiere of Chorus!, and served as head coach for the world premiere of André Previn’s A Brief Encounter. Mr. Li also served as music director for Houston Grand Opera’s tour production of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna at Le Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, with Mariachi Vargas. He was senior coach and chorus master for Aspen Opera Theater Center’s productions of The Great Gatsby, Falstaff, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni, and was principal coach for Wolf Trap Opera’s world premiere of John Musto’s The Inspector.

Future engagements for Mr. Li include a recital with soprano Tamara Wilson, assisting with SSM's production of Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria in the fall and Hänsel und Gretel in the spring, and cabaret performances with Lone Star Lyric.

Mr. Li has served as Artist Teacher of Opera Studies at the Shepherd School of Music since 2011. He has coached and assisted SSM’s productions of Albert Herring, Le Nozze di Figaro, Ariodante, Volpone, Così fan tutte, and Romance X 3, also conducting several graduate and undergraduate scenes programs.