The sincerity and nobility of Li's music have deeply touched people's heart.
- Taiwan Symphony Magazine
She is an educator who makes learning music a fun and exciting adventure.
- Creative Curriculum Committee of Taipei Ming-Hu High School
Cloud suddenly realized that to be a rainbow of his dream is simply let the sun shine on himself...
- "Wandering Cloud in the Skies" by Chihwei Julie Li
Biography
Chihwei Julie Li, a native Taiwanese pianist and composer. The earliest musical influence is from her father's love for rhythms and her mother's love for melodies. Beginning with piano lessons at the age of 5, she has been playing, singing, organizing, rehearsing and performing music since grade school. She began playing at church during her early teens and was hired as a pianist in high school. This eventually led to writing, teaching and performing music as a life-long profession.
She received her formal music training from a top-notch school in Taiwan - National Taiwan Normal University. She studied music theory and composition with Chen Mao Shuen, and piano with Wang Ying, Lin Ming Hui, and Jessica Lin. Her first teaching position was at Taipei Ming Hu High School after receiving her Bachelor’s degree. She received an excellent evaluation from the Creative Curriculum Committee at the high school. Some of her former students have already gone to college both in Taiwan and the US to pursue their careers in music .
An unplanned opportunity to perform and improvise before a group of music professors unexpectedly opened the door to graduate studies in the US with a full scholarship. This changed the course of her life and began a new page in her musical experience. She attended Carnegie Mellon University and studied composition with Leonardo Balada, conducting with Eduardo Alonso-Crespo, music theory and analysis with Marilyn Taft Thomas, and Dalcroze improvisation with Marta Sanchez and Annabelle Joseph. The experience has broadened her music creation process and deepened her understanding of the theory and techniques behind each great music composition.
Since then, Julie has been working with dance groups, choreographers, TV and filmmakers, children theaters, church choirs, worship bands, and other artists while keeping her busy teaching and writing schedule. She has enjoyed working with musicians of different nationalities. The diverse backgrounds and cultures of the people and artists from all over the world continue to nurture and inspire her music creating and performing activities. She currently lives in Long Island, New York with her husband, Antonio.
More Intimate Wrods (I)
This bio would not be complete without sharing something that’s dear to my heart, something that has changed my life greatly. I grew up in a humanistic environment, and my parents strongly believed in reason, hard work, and human ingenuity. Though my family has been influenced by Chinese tradition, I was brought to church as a toddler by my nanny. The seed of the gospel was planted in early childhood. I continued attending Sunday school on my own until my early teenage years.
In middle school, I started to question and challenge the simple faith that I adopted during childhood. A conflict between evolution and creation got me to delve into all related subjects in biology and science. I wanted to make sure what I believed is the truth. This consumed my thoughts during those years. After reading all the books I could find, I realized that although the theory of evolution is merely a theory of human assumption, the belief of intelligent design also requires faith. At that point, my young faith was also challenged by my parents' values, which led me to believe only in things that can be seen or touched.
I relied increasingly on my own strength and hard work to achieve academic success and popularity in school. However, a deep sense of emptiness towards life also grew in my heart. The more successful I became, the further away I was driven from happiness. The harder I tried to grasp happiness by chasing after achievements, the faster it slipped away from my fingers. I found nothing could make me smile again, and I lost interest in all things. "Depression" was not a common word those days in Taiwan. Now when I look back, my symptoms were similar to a lighter version of depression. My father was so concerned about my mental health that he often kept me at home in order to ease my tension and anxiety.
I was invited to a praise and worship meeting by a friend a year before going to college. Reluctantly, I went. I remember my contemptuousness towards everything came to the surface that night especially about the poorly prepared music. Being a proficient pianist most of my life, I was particularly annoyed by those simple chords and uninspired performance by the pianist that night. However, it was in the midst of that “bad” music that I experienced God's healing the very first time in my life. At first, I was embarrassed to find that I couldn't control my tears from bursting in front of people until I realized that no one was watching me, and everyone was singing and worshiping. That moment for me was like eternity though it was only an hour long event. I felt suddenly released from bondage. All my sorrows and worries were gone, and I was able to laugh like a child again, the way I had almost forgotten.
More Intimate Wrods (II)
It was a turning point in my life. I suddenly could see, could understand and could hear Him, my Lord, Jesus. I became so hungry for His words that I devoured Scriptures like never before. I brought my Bible to school everyday so I could read it during recess. My classmates and friends found a new person in me whom they never met before. The scientific debate doesn't trouble me anymore. I know who I believe, and I will not leave Him again. This personal encounter changed my life completely. I got baptized at the age of 14, but I became a true follower of Christ when I was 17.
God started to use my music to serve His church and people ever since. I realized the significance of the awkward music presentation God used as a life-changing event of my life years ago. Whenever I depend and focus too much on my professional training and all the grooves for "perfect music", He reminds me of that event. God wants me to remember that it was not by a beautiful arrangement and stunning musical techniques that I was healed, but by His Spirit.
After my salvation, God has been revealing my problems and weakness through His mighty Words. Often, He exposes the root of my worries and hidden sins, and teaches me how to deal with them using the Word of God. Slowly, He turns my self-reliance and humanistic lifestyle into God-trusting and Holy Spirit-dependence. However, my family's values and expectations kept me from committing my life totally into His hands. I was afraid to disappoint my parents by choosing ministry. It took me the next 10 years along with my God-given husband to realize that I can never be satisfied without fulfilling the calling of my life. When I finally accepted the position as a music director at the Community Church of Great Neck, it’s like a piece of puzzle finally fell into place. I knew I am fulfilling my purpose. The gift of music has been a blessing to me, and it was once my precious treasure. However, it's Jesus and His Word that makes a life abundant and a piece of music truly beautiful.
Representative Works
2005
Be Thou My Vision – Erhu, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Piano, Drums. 5’
Chinese Way of Love – Trio for Erhu, Flute and Piano. Premiered in Bowne Street Community Church. 5’
Hustle and Bustle – Duet for Flute and Piano. Premiered in Bowne Street Community Church. 5’
See Saw – Piano Solo. Premiered in Bowne Street Community Church. 4’
2004
Just As I Am – Orchestra and Choir Arrangement from Traditional Hymn 7’
2003
Wondering Cloud in the Skies – Trio for Bassoon, Flute and Piano. 7’
2001
Song Collection (One Thing I Ask, Walk with You, Yours Forever, Wounded for Me, Words of Wisdom, Thank You, A Contrite Heart, Chasing, His Love Endures Forever, He Provides…etc.) Written for choir and vocal ensemble since 2001 to present. The number of songs continues to grow. Each song duration ranging from 4’ to 7’
2000
Millenium Symphony– Written for Carnegie Mellon University Orchestra conducted by Eduardo Alonso-Crespo.11’
Song of 17 Hands – Written for the modern dance work by Choreographer Gillian Beauchamp. Performed in both Pittsburgh Philadelphia. 12’
Festival of Tea Harvest – An a cappella SATB Choir piece. 6’
Two – String Ensemble piece scored for film and TV workshop. 2’
1999
The Book of Job (I. Persecutions II. Friends III. His Presence IV. Job) – A four movement atonal piece depicting the ancient story of Job. 8’
Chasing After the Wind – A single movement piece written for ensemble of flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, percussions, and string ensemble. 7’
1999
The Book of Job (I. Persecutions II. Friends III. His Presence IV. Job) – A four movement atonal piece depicting the ancient story of Job. 8’
Chasing After the Wind – A single movement piece written for ensemble of flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, percussions, and string ensemble. 7’
1998
Eastern Suit (I. Rhyme II. Distance III Line IV. Image) – A four-movement piece that depicts abstract ideas in experimental composition techniques. Premiered by Carnegie Mellon University Contemporary Ensemble 5’
1997
I Corintians Chapter 13 – Chinese scripture written for soprano solo premiered by Meng Chun Lin in NTNU. 6’
1996
Rhythm – Qintet for Violin, Viola, Cello, French Horn and Timpani 7’
1995
Desert Fantasy – Duet for Clarinet and Marimba 6’
1994
Chinese Poem – Chamber Orchestra written for National Taiwan Normal University with a narrator. Premiered as a finale with composer conducting the piece. 10’
1993
Five Fugues – For Piano. Each fugue 3’-5’