88Keys to Cure co-founder Sophia Li, 24, is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she obtained her master’s degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Sinae Lee and Aaron Shorr. Sophia also attended the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at the University of Michigan where she completed a bachelor’s in piano performance under the guidance of Christopher Harding. A Chicago native, Sophia previously studied with Sueanne Metz and has been playing piano since the age of 4. Her accomplishments include receiving top prizes at the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, the Great Composers Competition Series, the Future Stars International Piano Competition, the U.S. New Star Piano Competition, the Louisiana International Piano Competition, the American Protege International Competition of Romantic Music, and honorable mention in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Crain-Maling Young Artists Competition, among others. Since the start of her musical education, she’s been featured in master classes with artists such as Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Petras Geniušas, and John Bayless. 

In the summer of 2019, Sophia was invited to perform in the Sheremetev Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia during the White Nights Piano Festival. She has competed in Warsaw, Poland at the Chopin International Youth Competition and performed with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the University of Alicante at Sala dei Notari in Perugia, Italy. As a winner of the American Fine Arts Festival Russian Concerto Competition, she performed in both Carnegie Hall and with the Kostroma Symphony Orchestra in Moscow, Russia. 

Sophia has participated in concert programs at Britton Recital Hall, Stamps Auditorium, Stevenson Concert Hall, Ledger Recital Room, Skokie Valley Public Library, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Most recently, Sophia has made her chamber debut with the Kalisi Piano Trio at both the Bloomfield Township Public Library and the Kerrytown Concert House. Apart from her endeavors in solo performance, Sophia has frequently collaborated with other chamber artists and served as the keyboardist for various musical productions. This included a performance of Beethoven’s second piano concerto with members of the SMTD University Philharmonic Orchestra and University Symphony Orchestra, in addition to a variety of piano duo collaborations featuring music by Bach, Arensky, Fauré, Mozart, and Ravel. 

As co-founder of 88Keys to Cure, Sophia has worked closely with young musicians across the Chicagoland area and various charity organizations to coordinate many benefit concerts and events, fostering both artistic opportunities and philanthropic ventures. After working with students of all ages and levels for over five years, Sophia most recently obtained a Diploma in Principles of Instrumental Teaching from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Aside from piano, Sophia enjoys writing and has also obtained a minor in creative writing at the University of Michigan.