January Yucheng Li

January Yucheng Li is a composer, singer-songwriter, and producer currently based in New York. With a passion for storytelling through music, he has composed original scores for films, video games, soundtracks, and music libraries, working across genres such as orchestral, pop, action, romantic, jazz, horror, electronic, and traditional Chinese music.

January’s musical journey began with traditional Chinese music. He started playing the Cucurbit Flute (Hulusi) at 8, earning a Level 5 Certificate from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. His deep connection to Chinese classical music led him to integrate traditional instruments with orchestral elements, blending Eastern and Western styles in his compositions. He has performed Cucurbit Flute in various settings, including high school stages, an exchange program in Holland, and university concerts in Ningbo.

As a film composer, January has scored multiple short films, including A Letter from Future, Journey, and Life Is Like A Dream. His works have been recognized at international festivals such as the Beijing International Film Festival, the Paris Play Film Festival, and the Indo-French International Film Festival. In 2024, his score for A Letter from Future was performed live at the Unsilent Film Concert at NYU's Paulson Center, an experience that reinforced his passion for live music. His music for Journey was nominated for “Best Visual Effects” at the 2024 Beijing Film Academy Animation Awards, and Life Is Like A Dream was also featured at the Beijing Student Film Festival.

Beyond film scoring, January is also an active songwriter and performer. In 2024, he was named a Semi-Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), placing among the top 15% of entries worldwide. As a performer, he made his live debut with his band at the Music Tech Invasion 2024 event in New York, premiering 7 original, unreleased songs.

His compositional style often explores the fusion of orchestral and electronic elements. In particular, he has been developing original works using synthesizers and experimenting with their integration with strings and traditional instruments, pushing the boundaries of hybrid musical storytelling.

January's work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Golden Prize at the London Young Musician Competition and the Silver Prize at the Saint-Saëns International Music Competition. He was a Finalist in the 2022 International Electronic Music Competition (IEMC) with his score for the short animation Spring, and received the Outstanding Shortlist Works Award at the 2nd International Youth Film and Music Creative Exhibition.

He graduated in 2025 with a Master of Music in Screen Scoring from New York University, where he spent two years refining his craft and expanding his compositional voice. January remains dedicated to artistic growth, and is eager to collaborate on projects that bring music and storytelling together.