Li Chuan Yun

Li Chuan Yun (李傳韻), also known as Chanyun Li or Babeli (born 1980) is a Chinese violin virtuoso. He began studying violin at the age of 3 and won his first prize in Beijing when he was five. Li performed all the violin solos for the film Together and also starred in the film. He is often cited as the youngest professional violinist in the world. He also performed a variation on "Czardas" by Vittoro Monti.

Born to a musical family in the coastal city of Qingdao in Northern China, his career began at the age of three, when his parents taught him to play the violin at home.

At five, Li won his first championship at the Beijing Youth and Junior Violin Competition. At eleven, he received the top award at the Fifth Wieniawski International Youth Violin Competition, becoming the youngest winner in the competition's history.

Professor Lin Yaoji from the Central Conservatory of Music, the most prestigious music education center in China, recalls the first time he listened to six-year-old Li Chuanyun.

"I didn't take it seriously at first, a six-year-old playing Lalo, I just dismissed it. But once the boy started playing, I saw huge talent. I was amazed."

In 1996 Li studied at the Juilliard School with Dorothy DeLay, Itzhak Perlman and Hyo Kang; he later continued his study with Delay and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Professor Kurt Sassmannshaus comments: "It's very rare that one person has the ability to transform a musical idea immediately into sound. Most people have to think about the technique. But Li Chuanyun just plays."

Li Chuanyuan is best remembered by Chinese audiences for his violin performance in the renowned Chinese director Chen Kaige's movie "Together" in 2002. The story relates the love between a father and a son who plays the violin. Li performed and recorded the soundtrack's solo violin music.

Violin

A 1784 Guadagnini on extended loan from the Stradivari Society.

He also used the following violins from Stradivari Society in recording Stradivari Campaign

• Lobkowitz Amati 1617 ($1,000,000)
• Ruby Stradivari 1708 ($5,000,000)
• La Cathedral Stradivari 1707(5,000,000)
• Sloan Guaneri 1742($4,000,000)
• Jackson Stradivari 1714($5,000,000)
• Manthua-Ricci,Balestrei, 1771($4,500,000)
• Osborn 1766

Awards

• At five, he won his first championship at the Beijing Youth and Junior Violin Competition.
• At eleven, he received the top award at the Fifth Wieniawski International Youth Violin Competition; he is the youngest winner in the competition's history.
• At 17, he won the first prize of Nakamichi Violin Concerto competition.
• At 19, he won the first prize of Saint Saens Violin Concerto competition
• In 2008 he won the China Gold Record award.

CD albums

• Paganini 24 Caprices Chuanyun Li Violin (4-CD set,1993 Hong Kong recordings and 2007 Beijing recordings )ISBN 9787798606461
• Violin Operas
• Romantic Moments ISBN 9787798994612
• Love Capriccio ISBN 9787884815579
• Prophetic Birds
• Stradivari Campaign ISBN 9787883192817
• The Rebirth of Great Violin
• La Ronde des Lutins
• Salut D'Amour - Strauss Violin Sonata and Favourite Encores