I go by Zyi Li (pronounced “Z Lee”). This is a mix of my given Chinese (I speak Mandarin Chinese) and family names (Zheng & Li). My given English name is Andrew. I was born and raised in STL. I started playing the saxophone around the age of 5 after telling my parents about a picture of a bear playing a saxophone at a park. My private teacher was the band director at my mother’s school and was formerly a saxophonist for Ray Charles (I currently play Mr. Merry’s personal saxophones). I would grow up with music as part of my life. With my private teacher, I would play in various ensembles in my youth around the city of STL. During high school, I tried startup groups in various activities as dance (Aerofluct Creed). Upon graduating from Parkway North High School, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a saxophonist and was stationed at Camp Lejeune. During that time, I would play in various band and small ensemble settings, perform various styles, travel around performing for many events, and create my own bands. I would obtain my Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree from Campbell University while attending mixed night and online courses on base.

After my about 4-year enlistment and obtaining the rank of Sergeant, I returned to STL to attend law school at Washington University in St. Louis and started a start-up social venture (Patch Life Utilities). After graduating law school with a JD, passing the Missouri bar, and obtaining a MBA from Webster University, I eventually moved to Washington D.C. for a new job working for the federal government. While in D.C., I performed in various bands ranging from original music groups playing in bars to high-end agency bands playing for large weddings. I also began writing and producing my own original music. I then decided to move back to my hometown, the great city of St. Louis.

I started my journey with music at age 3 in Kao-Hsiung, Taiwan, and received professional level training in both piano and violin throughout my youth. I started competing with the violin at age 7. During my childhood, I moved to Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado.

Between the ages of 13 to 16, I went on 6 rock and jazz concert tours in Taiwan with acclaimed musicians of Asia. I graduated with a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder. I eventually moved to Maryland to obtain a Masters and Doctorate degree in Violin Performance (DMA) at the University of Maryland, College Park. As a classical musician, I won numerous national competitions and performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia. I have also made numerous recordings in all genres of music for even Grammy award winning artists.

Throughout the years, I studied and played with many prestigious teachers and professional musicians: Dr. William Starr (Founder, Suzuki Association of the Americas), Dr. Gerald Fischbach (Author, Viva Vibrato! & Artistry in Strings), Oswald Lehnert (University of Colorado, Boulder), and members of the Takacs Quartet (Grammy Award Winner), Guarneri Quartet, Cavani Quartet, Borodin Quartet, and Cleveland Quartet. I also received master classes from Yo-Yo Ma, Izhak Perlman, Dorothy Delay, Jonathan Carney, and Hilary Hahn.

In recent years, I became a Director and General Manager for Kushner Entertainment’s PopCulture Strings, Productions Coordinator for Kushner Entertainment company, and Entertainment Designer for Kushner Entertainment company and Washington Talent Agency. She would also direct, manage, orchestrate, and coordinate music for Kindred The Family Soul.

I am passionate about people. My goal in life is to create memories with the people I love, for the people I love, and for all that they love. In motto, "I want to live for other people, so that when I ultimately leave this earth, my stories live on."