18-year-old pianist and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Nora Li enjoys writing poetry to express her emotions. She sees a connection between the two art forms – both involve balancing little details with the bigger picture. Enjoy her thoughtful interpretation of Liebesleid by Fritz Kreisler, transcribed for solo piano by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Farragut, Tennessee Nora performs on Show 487.
Nuoyan “Nora” Li (piano), 18, is a senior at Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is a student of Dr. Chih-Long Hu. Nora has performed at premier music festivals, including the Mannes and the Vivace International Piano Festivals, and has won top awards in many competitions such as the Vivace International Piano Competition, the Bay Area Piano Competition, the Denison University International Piano Competition, and the Knoxville International Piano Competition. She was selected as the winner of the 2025-2026 Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition, resulting in an upcoming performance with the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra at the Tennessee Theater in February 2026. In addition to being a solo pianist, Nora is an avid chamber musician. She has performed in the Heartland Chamber Music Festival in Kansas City, a chamber music recital at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the 2025 Asian Musician Recital at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.
Nora is dedicated to music education as both a piano teacher and an advocate for increasing access to education resources among underrepresented groups.
When she isn’t playing the piano, she can be found participating in STEM competitions, baking pastries, or taking care of her cat.
Receiving the Award will support Nora in covering her private lesson tuition as well as the travel and lodging fees associated with her college auditions. The award funds will also allow Nora to attend a music festival this coming summer of 2026.
Music has the unique ability to bring joy to our lives – especially in the hands of young people. Daily Joy is a reminder of music’s power to uplift, inspire, and unite.
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Daily Joy is a program of From the Top, an independent non-profit organization that relies on support from individuals. Your support will help ensure From the Top's work of celebrating the joy, talents, and stories of extraordinary young musicians.