Li Zhenqi
Li Zhenqi is a Chinese cellist who is currently a DMA candidate in cello performance at the New Zealand School of Music. She has been awarded several music scholarships, including the Cammick Scholarship (2024), the Barbara Finlayson Scholarship (2020-2024) and the Therle Drake Scholarship (2020-2024). Zhenqi has also received the New Zealand School of Music (NZSM) Performance Excellence Award and the NZSM Postgraduate Award in Cello Performance in 2021. Zhenqi has been selected as a grantee of the Special Program for Artistic Cultivation by the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) . She was also awarded the Freemasons Lankhuyzen/Whetu-Kairangi Music Award and received funding for her DMA research project. In addition to her scholarships and awards, Zhenqi has won several international competitions, including the Alice & Schoenfeld International String Competition, the Best Classical Musicians Awards, the 21st Century Prominent Musicians Award, the Global Classical Music Championship, the New York City Music Awards, the First Prize at New York Victory International Music Competition, the Absolute First Prize & Excellent Technique Special Award at the World Grand Prix International Music Contest, the Bach International Music Competition - Absolute First Prize & Outstanding Technique Special Award, the World Classical Music Awards and the Third Prize at the Servaas International Music Competition. She was a semi-finalist in the Klaipėda International Cello Competition in Lithuania and in the International Cello Competition in Italy. She also received The Rivers Awards International Composition Competition (RACC) Performance Award.
Zhenqi displayed prodigious talent from a very young age. She started taking piano lessons as a toddler and began formal cello study at the age of seven, following her piano study. Her cello ability was recognised when she won the 2nd Prize in A-group of the 3rd "Aegean Cup" national cello competition in 2008. At the age of 16, Zhenqi entered the affiliated primary school of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she studied with renowned cellist Xinhua Ma, and later attended the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2011. She was selected for the 2011 Asian Youth Orchestra and toured Asia with the orchestra. Since 2011, Zhenqi has been studying chamber music with Professor Jensen Horn-Sin Lam. She served as principal cellist of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music symphony orchestra and concertmaster in the First Cello Festival Orchestra organized by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2015, she travelled to Finland to study with the exceptional and renowned cellist Martti Rousi at the University of the Arts Helsinki-Sibelius Academy. In June 2018, she completed her Master's degree in music with honours at the Sibelius Academy, rated 'Excellent' by the jury. Since 2020, Zhenqi has been studying for a DMA program with Dr. Inbal Megiddo at Victoria University of Wellington - New Zealand School of Music. Her research project focuses on the influence of the connection between bow makers and cellists on the development of the cello bowing technique. Zhenqi has been instructed by many famous musicians in the world, such as Wang Jian; David Strange; Marko Ylönen; Sadau Harada; Lauri Kankkunen; Rhonda Rider; David Geber; Reinhard Latzko; Nicolas Altstaedt; Johannes Meissl（Artis Quartet）、Hatto Beyerle（Alban Berg Quartet）; Ashley Brown (NZ Trio); Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi; Roi Ruotinen; Ashley Bathgate; Andreas Brantelid; Stefan Kropfitsc; Sadau Harada; Susan Jane; Liwei Qin; Yeesun Kim; Amir Eldan; Nicolas Alstaedt etc.
As a chamber music player, she won the First Prize in the 3rd Chamber Music Competition organized by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music as the cellist of the Yue-Quartet. They have held concerts in the Czech Republic and Austria, and have been invited to participate in numerous chamber music festivals including the Dvorak Chamber Music Competition, ISA International Summer Academy, and more. She has also attended Gonggeng College Summer Music Camp. Additionally, she is the cellist for Cellophonia and the NZSM cello ensemble.
Li Zhenqi is an accomplished educator who was honoured with the Hummingbird Music Best Teacher Award at the 2022 China Youth Music Competition. She is the founder of Tweedle Tweedle Music Studio and has taught cello at YK Pao International School in Shanghai as well as Kielo International School in Helsinki. Her students come from various countries.
Zhenqi is a cellist who has performed on classical stages around the world. She has appeared as a guest cellist with several symphony orchestras, including the Wellington Orchestra since 2022, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Hang Zhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Festival Orchestra, Chongqing Festival Orchestra, and Shanghai Oriental Symphony Orchestra.
Currently, Zhenqi has her career primarily in New Zealand and China.