Chengrong Li was born into a musical family and began his music studies at the age of four. Although his musical journey began with the violin, he became captivated by the beautiful tone of the viola as a teenager. Since then, his musical engagements have taken him to stages throughout China, Germany and the US as a viola soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician.

As a soloist Chengrong has appeared in several noted venues in China, such as the Shanghai Concert Hall, Dalian City Theater and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall. His diverse repertoire has included Bach's Sixth Cello Suites, Johannes Brahms’s Sonata in E flat major for Viola and Piano and George Rochberg’s Sonata for Viola and Piano. In the US, his solo recital at NEC in 2024 included Joan Tower’s Purple Rhapsody, Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata, and Brahms’ Sonata in f minor for Viola and Piano.

Chengrong has performed a wide range of chamber music from the Baroque to contemporary. His ensemble, the Dongping Quartet toured extensively in China, visiting Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing with performances of Bedřich Smetana's String Quartet No. 1 'From My Life', as well as engagements in Germany, 2019 and Australia, 2017. His engagements with the Einstein Ensemble in Germany included classics of contemporary movies such as Star Wars, The Island, Forrest Gump and many others.

Music festival performances in US include the Bowdoin International Music Festival, ME, 2021 and the Apple Hill Repertoire Workshop, 2022, performing evocative works such as York Bowen’s Fantasie Quartet for 4 violas in E minor and Lili Boulanger’s Deux Morceaux pour quatuor d' altos. 

As Principal Violinist of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music's Symphony Orchestra, Chengrong has performed with conductor XiaoOu Zhaoin concert halls in Shanghai, Fujian and Dalian. These performances included the opera Flute in Heaven, Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, Beethoven's Fifth and Ninth Symphonies. In 2019 he led the orchestra on an exchange tour to Germany. In addition, he served as the Principal Violinist of the Shanghai’s Charity Orchestra established by the Shanghai Noah Foundation for many years. He coaches musicians and participates in many charity concerts, performing works such as  Peter and the Wolf, and City in the Sky. 

Chenrong Li studies with Professor Ivo-Jan Van Der Werff at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in 2024, working with Mai Motobuchi. He is preparing for his life’s dream of orchestral playing.