Bio

Elliona Z. S. Li is a Chinese Canadian composer. Having been raised in both Eastern and Western cultures, Li’s music often features intricate combinations of elements from both traditions. She began her musical journey at the age of 5 as a pianist and, by age 15, scored her first TV cartoon series in 2007.

Li studied under renowned composers Ian Krouse and Peter Golub, earning her BA (cum laude) in 2016, MA in 2021 and PhD in Composition, specializing in visual media composition, from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in 2024.

Li’s compositions have been featured in films screened at festivals including the San Diego International Children's Film Festival, Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, Seattle Film Festival, Hollywood Comedy Shorts, Montreal Independent Film Festival, Hollywood New Directors, North Fork TV Festival, LA Comedy Shorts, and London Lift-off Film Festival. In addition to her work in film, she also composes for video games and is currently developing her first chamber opera exploring the struggles of mental illness.

In 2022, Li was selected as one of six fellows for the prestigious Sundance Institute Film Music Intensive Program, where she deepened her skills and gained invaluable insights into the film scoring industry.