Isabella Li is a piano teacher, educator, lecturer, masterclass presenter, and frequent jury member for piano competitions. She brings nearly three decades of teaching experience at New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School and Adult Education program.

Her students have achieved outstanding success in numerous prestigious competitions, including the Kaufman Music Center International Youth Competition, Gina Bachauer Junior & Young International Piano Competition, Chopin Competition for Young Pianists (Connecticut and Europe), Rubato International Piano Competition, Ramón A. Rivera Competition, NEC Concerto Competition, Steinway Piano Competitions, and the MTNA Piano Competitions. 

Many of her students have gone on to study at leading conservatories and universities such as The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Yale School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, Peabody Institute, and Berklee College of Music. Some have become professional pianists, composers, and conductors, while others have pursued careers outside of music and remain passionate amateur musicians and dedicated supporters of the arts. 
Born in China, Isabella made her solo and orchestral debut at the age of eight and has since performed in cities around the world. She holds degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Her principal teachers include José Ramos-Santana, Phyllis Lehrer, Fang Da Lei, and Qing Huang Wang. 

Known for her thoughtful and individualized teaching, Isabella’s approach blends rigorous technical training with deep artistic and musical development. During the pandemic, she founded Musicale, an online piano platform that brought together students and educators from around the globe. 

Isabella has presented numerous pedagogical lectures and presentations, including at the MTNA National Conference in 2024. Her work focuses on the development of strong technical and artistic foundations in the early years of piano study, as well as the thoughtful use of repertoire to support clear musical and technical goals. She is a strong advocate for exploring lesser-known piano repertoire and composers as an essential part of a well-rounded musical education. 

In recent years, she has expanded her focus on teaching amateur adult pianists, believing that adults have the same potential to reach a high level of musical and artistic achievement. In addition to her involvement in local and national music organizations, Isabella is deeply committed to advancing excellence in both children’s and adult piano education. 

Photo by Ben Pu.