Artistic Director & Conductor 

Choral Canada  Board of Director, Toronto

Dr. Leo Li (abd), Choral Canada on board director, Chair of Choral Canada Membership Committee, Member of Juried Program Committee, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award recipient, choral and orchestral conductor. 

His journey as a conductor commenced officially at the age of 18, where he led a choir to victory with a Gold Prize at the Czech International Music Festival. Currently holding his Ph.D. Candidate status at the University of Toronto, Canada, Dr. Li (abd), a Chinese Canadian award-winning conductor, ardently dedicates himself to fostering connections and bridging possibilities for various choirs and singing groups, facilitating cultural exchange from the East to the West. 

Dr. Li (abd) possesses extensive experience in the realm of conducting. His expertise extends across diverse music ensembles, ranging from mixed choirs, equal-voice choirs, and vocal ensembles, etc. Additionally, he has showcased his conducting prowess with symphony orchestras.

Dr. Li (abd)’s influence in the conducting sphere transcends borders, as he has conducted and performed in various countries spanning four continents, including Australia, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, etc. a notable highlight in Dr. Li (abd)’s career when he led the performance at the Friendship Concert during The 9th World Choir Games in Sochi, Russia. The 9th WCG marked his victory in the Pop Music Genre, Open Competition, securing the first-place accolade. 

Dr. Leo Li (abd) has undergone a comprehensive musical education, studying under the tutelage of esteemed Canadian and international conductors, maestri, and educators. His educational journey spans from high school to graduate levels, including masterclasses and workshops, where he has focused on choral and orchestral conducting, musicology, and music education. 

In addition to his conductor training, Dr. Li (abd) has delved into vocal performance and instrumental studies such as flute and percussions under the guidance of Canadian well-known artists and musicians. As a vocalist, he has performed in concert halls and theaters around the world, including Gateway Theatre in British Columbia, Ontario Royal Museum, Tyndale University, York University (Toronto), China National Library Arts Center Concert Hall, and China National Theater for the Performing Arts, etc. This diverse training background has equipped Dr. Li (abd) with a well-rounded foundation across various musical disciplines. 

In 2022, serving as the instructor and conductor, Dr. Li (abd) led a choir in the Connections Series – an event comprising open rehearsals for national and international delegates at PODIUM2022, Canada’s national biennial bilingual conference and festival. Looking ahead to 2024, Dr. Li (abd), again in his roles as instructor and conductor, is set to present a lecture recital titled “Chinese Immigrant’s Ethnic Choral Singing” at PODIUM2024 in Montreal. 

In 2021, Dr. Leo Li (abd) assumed the role of Co-Chair for the School-Community Engagement Portfolio and Local Liaison Portfolio within the PODIUM planning committee. The subsequent year, he, along with his colleagues, initiated a groundbreaking project known as the Connections Series – a platform fostering collaboration between mainstream choral societies and community-based ethnic choral and singing groups. This venture, now a recurring project, is set to expand its reach in 2024 in Montreal, facilitating more connections within the choral community. 

At the end of 2022, Dr. Li (abd) accepted NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir’s invitation as the conductor and staged their inaugural choral concert in downtown Toronto in 2023. In 2023~2024 music season, Dr. Li (abd) has been appointed as the Artistic Director and Conductor of NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir and NeoVoce Philharmonic Quartet. In the summer of 2023, Dr. Li (abd) served as the Artistic Advisor, Conductor, and Chorus Master for the “Ode to Peace” grand original music concert. Notably, the accomplished musician and composer, WANG Yan-Qiao, has recently expressed high praise and affirmation for Dr. Leo Li (abd)’s contributions in conducting, rehearsals, and performances. 

Lyric Soprano and Vocal Trainer

Studied under Professor Chen Yanfang of Music Department of Xiamen University, Professor Zhan Shihua of Music Department of Jimei University, and Professor Guo Lingbi of Acoustic Song Department of China Conservatory of Music. She has been engaged in music teaching for many years and has rich experience in singing performance and teaching. She has participated in many competitions, and won the silver Medal of National Excellent Singer Competition, the Gold Medal of Fujian Singer Competition, and the Gold Medal and Silver medal of the 5th (Graz, Austria) World Chorus Competition. Also She has visited Southeast Asia, South Asia, Europe and other countries for cultural exchange activities.

M.M. in Michigan State University

Studying in University of Toronto

Piano accompaniment experience:

Shanghai Little Star Choir, China

St. John’s Lutheran Church Choir, U.S.

Ceci, Yuexi Li, 18 years old, is currently studying in Music Education program, Classical Piano at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto.

Ceci started learning piano and hulusi at the age of 6, and joined the school folk orchestra to play Pipa when she is 9-year old. She is a professional instrumentalist and has gained rich performance experience. She received the ARCT level Certificate of Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Grade-9 Pipa Certificate and Grade-10 Hulusi Certificate from the Central Conservatory of Music. She continues to study Cello, flute and trumpet. Besides, she has often been invited to charity performances across the GTA, and accumulated a hundred volunteer hours in local musical events. She has played Pipa Solo twice at the Buffalo Annual Charity Music Concert in the U.S.. Ceci ever was honored to be the youth performer playing Pipa at MP Anita's inauguration of Oakville Parliament, House of Commons. She also secured the First Place of Young Artist Awards for both Chinese Instrument Solo and Ensemble Group in the 2020 Canadian International Music Competition. In June 2023, Ceci was invited to performe at the Toronto Dragon Boat Festival on centre Island, spreading Chinese folk music and receiving great acclaim.

He began learning piano at the age of seven, and began playing piano accompanist for Hamilton and Burlington choirs at the age of ten. He has performed on the stage of the Hamilton Chinese Spring Festival Gala several times. He has won multiple gold medals in piano and popular singing competitions at music festivals held in London, Niagara, Hamilton and other regions. Currently in ninth grade at Hamilton Westmount Secondary School. His goal is to obtain a Grade 10 piano certificate and a Grade 8 violin certificate in the first half of 2024.

He started learning piano at the age of four and violin at the age of seven. Currently serving as violin accompanist for an adult choir in a church.

He has participated in many local and international piano competitions and won many awards and scholarships. He completed the Level 10 piano course at the age of thirteen. Pass the violin level 10 exam in 2023.

Currently studying in Grade 11 of a high school in Mississauga, he is a member of the school band, and the band has won a gold medal in national competitions. He is also passionate about composing music and is currently composing and playing violin for a film directed and performed by middle school students.

He began to learn violin at the age of seven and joined the Suzhou Youth Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of ten to perform in the orchestra. He immigrated to British Columbia, Canada at the age of 12. He studied and played the French horn in the wind band of the high school where he attended. He also played the violin in the Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra (symphony and chamber music division) and also made his first appearance in the string quartet. Tried viola. After attending Laurel College, he studied with violinist Jerzy Kaplanek and joined the Penderecki String Quartet. He resumed studying the viola and began to enjoy it more in chamber music classes, where he studied with viola player Christine Vlajk at Laurel University. In 2022, he will transfer to the University of Toronto. In January 2023, he decided to completely switch to viola and studied with Rémi Pelletier, the principal viola player of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

She started learning piano at the age of six and cello at the age of eight. Currently a cellist in the Mississauga Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In 2023, she won the Peel County Music Festival scholarship and first place in the string duo group. In 2024, she participated in the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival competition and won the Platinum Award in the Class 10 Classical Music category and first place in the Pop Strings category.

She is currently a seventh grade student preparing for the Royal Conservatory of Music piano and cello level 10 exams.

Mr. Jason Peng, MBA, works in Accounting Section of a

large multinational corporation. He is passionate about

music, serving as the Vice President of NeoVoce

Philharmonic Choir. His achievements include: Winning the

second place in the "Youth-China-Dream” all-age talents

competition on TV in Canada region in 2019; Winner of

Gold Award in the Water Cube Cup Singer Competition in

Toronto in 2021; One of the top ten contestants in the third

China national singing competition of "I Sing Teresa Teng" held 2022.