He entered the Primary School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of nine and studied with Professors Wu Feifei, Zhou Binyou, Zheng Shisheng, and Ding Zhinuo.
He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2006.
Tao Li has received numerous prizes in major music competitions in China and abroad, including the Gold Prize in the Calgary Concerto Competition in Canada in 2001, the Golden Bell Award in the National Violin Competition of China in 2003, and First Prize in the inaugural Shanghai Conservatory Dayang Culture Chamber Music Competition in 2005.
During his student years, he served as concertmaster of the orchestra of the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and later as concertmaster of the Shanghai Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra.
After graduating in 2006, he served for nearly ten years as concertmaster of the Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra, becoming at that time the youngest professional orchestra concertmaster in China.
In 2008, he was elected Vice President of the Shanghai Violin Committee of the Chinese Musicians Association. In 2011, he served as jury member of the CCTV Piano and Violin Competition.
In 2013, his Rococo Trio won the Golden Bell Award at the 9th China Golden Bell Competition for Piano and String Chamber Music.
In 2014, he received the Outstanding Mentor Award at the Hong Kong International String Open Competition. In 2015, he joined the Shanghai Youth Artists Association.
In 2017, he formally joined the faculty as violin teacher at the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
From 2018 to 2020, he received the Talented Mentor Award at the 8th Hong Kong International Violin Competition.
In 2021, he was appointed Guest Concertmaster of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2022, under authorization of the United Nations World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation and recommendation from multiple internationally recognized cultural institutions, he was named an International Peace Artist.
In 2023, he received the Best Mentor Award at the Vienna Arnold Rosé International Violin Competition.
In recent years, he has devoted more of his energy to the training of young musicians.
At the same time, as a violin soloist, he has collaborated with numerous orchestras in China and abroad, including the Munich Philharmonic, the NEC Philharmonic in Canada, the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra in Finland, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra.
After winning the Golden Bell Award, he was invited to perform at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and has long served as guest concertmaster with several leading orchestras.
Western media have described him as “a truly exciting violinist.”
Following one of his solo recitals, the Finnish Times commented: “His playing is grand in character while remaining refined in detail.”
He entered the Primary School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of nine and studied with Professors Wu Feifei, Zhou Binyou, Zheng Shisheng, and Ding Zhinuo.
He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2006.
Tao Li has received numerous prizes in major music competitions in China and abroad, including the Gold Prize in the Calgary Concerto Competition in Canada in 2001, the Golden Bell Award in the National Violin Competition of China in 2003, and First Prize in the inaugural Shanghai Conservatory Dayang Culture Chamber Music Competition in 2005.
During his student years, he served as concertmaster of the orchestra of the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and later as concertmaster of the Shanghai Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra.
After graduating in 2006, he served for nearly ten years as concertmaster of the Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra, becoming at that time the youngest professional orchestra concertmaster in China.
In 2008, he was elected Vice President of the Shanghai Violin Committee of the Chinese Musicians Association. In 2011, he served as jury member of the CCTV Piano and Violin Competition.
In 2013, his Rococo Trio won the Golden Bell Award at the 9th China Golden Bell Competition for Piano and String Chamber Music.
In 2014, he received the Outstanding Mentor Award at the Hong Kong International String Open Competition. In 2015, he joined the Shanghai Youth Artists Association.
In 2017, he formally joined the faculty as violin teacher at the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
From 2018 to 2020, he received the Talented Mentor Award at the 8th Hong Kong International Violin Competition.
In 2021, he was appointed Guest Concertmaster of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2022, under authorization of the United Nations World Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation and recommendation from multiple internationally recognized cultural institutions, he was named an International Peace Artist.
In 2023, he received the Best Mentor Award at the Vienna Arnold Rosé International Violin Competition.
In recent years, he has devoted more of his energy to the training of young musicians.
At the same time, as a violin soloist, he has collaborated with numerous orchestras in China and abroad, including the Munich Philharmonic, the NEC Philharmonic in Canada, the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra in Finland, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and the Central Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra.
After winning the Golden Bell Award, he was invited to perform at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and has long served as guest concertmaster with several leading orchestras.
Western media have described him as “a truly exciting violinist.”
Following one of his solo recitals, the Finnish Times commented: “His playing is grand in character while remaining refined in detail.”
