Introducing Li Siyu, the Erhu teacher who knows how to make learning fun and exciting! With a passion for the Erhu, she brings energy and enthusiasm to every lesson, making sure that her students have a blast while they learn. But don’t let her fun-loving nature fool you, Siyu is also incredibly dedicated and meticulous, helping her students reach new heights in their erhu playing skills. And the cherry on top? She conducts lessons in both English and Mandarin, making her accessible to students of all backgrounds and the perfect teacher to help you take your erhu playing to the next level!
Li Siyu is a talented musician who has been mastering the art of playing the Erhu since the tender age of 5. With the guidance of her teachers, including Guo Si Quan and Shen Qin, Siyu has consistently excelled in her studies, even earning a Distinction in the Erhu Performance Diploma Examination in 2015.
Siyu’s impressive skills on the Erhu have not gone unnoticed. She was admitted to the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) at just 11 years old, becoming the youngest Erhu player of that year. Over the years, she has consistently been recognized with the “Excellent Musician Award,” and has even been appointed the Erhu I principal.
But Siyu’s talents don’t stop at the Erhu. She has also been learning to play the Jinghu since the age of 11, and has been invited to perform as a guest musician with various ensembles and orchestras, such as the Ding Yi Music Company and the NUS Chinese Orchestra.
Li Siyu is a seasoned pro when it comes to competing in music competitions. At just 9 years old, she took home the second prize in the Erhu Junior Category at the National Chinese Music Competition. But Siyu didn’t let that be her only triumph – she went on to win first place in the Erhu Junior Category in 2012, the Erhu Youth Category in 2014, and the Erhu Open Category in 2016.
Siyu’s impressive skills on the Erhu earned her the rare honour of performing as a soloist in the erhu concerto, The Brave Spirits of the Snow Mountains, accompanied by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) in 2016. She was also invited to attend masterclasses with Professor Zhao Han Yang and Professor Liu Chang Fu at the Central Conservatory of Music in China.
But Siyu’s talents have also been recognised internationally. She participated in the inaugural Los Angeles International Chinese Music Competition in 2014, taking home second prize in the semi-finals in China and going on to win the Gold medal in the finals held in the USA. Siyu was even invited by renowned Erhu master Professor Zhao Han Yang to perform two traditional erhu classics, Racing Horses and The Flower, in Los Angeles.
In 2020, Siyu returned to the Singapore National Chinese Music Competition and was awarded the Audience Choice Award for the Grand Category. With such an impressive list of accomplishments, it’s clear that Siyu is a talented and dedicated musician.
