Li Kuang is Assistant Professor of Music at Portland State University. Along with his duties as the trombone professor, Li teaches music theory courses, coaches chamber ensembles, and serves as the Director of the Portland State University Trombone Choir. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Li also serves as the Graduate Coordinator for the School of Music and Theater. Before joining the faculty at Portland State University, Li was Assistant Professor of Music (Trombone and Theory) at Murray State University (KY). He also served as an Associate Instructor at the University of Texas at Austin and held faculty positions as the applied Low Brass Instructor at Southwestern University (TX) and Blinn College (TX).
Li is an Edwards and Ultimate Brass Artist with a diverse performing career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician across the US and Asia. His recent solo appearances include the International Trombone Festivals (ITF), American Trombone Workshop (ATW), Big XII Trombone Conference, and Jinbao International Low Brass Festival. Li has performed with numerous ensembles, including the Oregon Symphony, Paducah Symphony, Detroit Chamber and Winds, Sichuan Symphony Orchestra/Opera Orchestra, Sichuan Film Orchestra, Chengdu Philharmonic, and the International Trombone Festival Cramer Choir.
Li is an active recitalist, clinician, and adjudicator. He regularly presents recitals, master classes, and clinics throughout the US and China. His recent master class engagements include at Ohio State University, Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Oregon, Bowling Green State University, China Conservatory, Jilin College of Fine Arts (China), and Yantai University (China). Li served on the jury panels for the International Trombone Association's Gagliardi Tenor Trombone Competition, American Trombone Workshop's National Tenor & Bass Trombone Solo Competitions, Jinbao International Low Brass Grand Prix, Big XII Trombone Solo Competitions, as well as many regional and state competitions and contests.
Li competed in several national and international competitions, including winning the "Top Emerging Artists" competition in Asia, the International Trombone Association "Frank Smith Competition," and the Sichuan Province Government Scholarship. He was a runner-up in the Remington International Trombone Choir Competition and was selected as a finalist in the ATW National Solo Competition (Division III). Li also received honors from Concerto Competitions from Bowling Green State University and the University of Texas at Austin.
As a dedicated studio and classroom teacher, Li works with trombone students of a broad age and level spectrum and strives to provide his classrooms with an engaging, rigorous, inclusive, and relevant experience. Outside of PSU, Li works with low brass musicians from Portland Youth Orchestras in Portland, Oregon. He also served as the faculty at the 2023 International Trombone Festival Youth Workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he worked closely with young trombone students from all over the country and the world. Continuing to serve the role of "ambassador" to China and the US in the trombone field, Li works towards building better connections between the two countries. Li recently presented his article “Trombone Pedagogy of China” at the 52nd International Trombone Festival. His presentation received positive claims and provided important information about trombone teaching development and working opportunities in China for trombonists worldwide.
Li received his Doctor of Music Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin. He holds Master of Music degrees in Trombone Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan. Li also received Bachelor of Music degrees from Bowling Green State University and Sichuan Conservatory of Music (China). His primary teachers are Nathaniel Brickens, David L. Jackson, Bill Mathis, Garth Simmons, and Jin Sun, with additional instructions and inspirations from Joseph Alessi, Kenneth Thompkins, Michael Mulcahy, Nitzan Haroz, and Matt Vaughn.