Sydney

Artist Bio

Sydney Li-Jenkins, violin

Sydney Li-Jenkins is a thirteen year-old violinist from Sausalito, California, who is passionate about creating beautiful sounds on her instrument to tell a story and express herself. She studies with Elbert Tsai at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Sydney has soloed with multiple orchestras including the Mill Valley Philharmonic and the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra (MSYO). She has won first prize in competitions including Pacific Music Society, KAMSA, and the International Youth Music Competition. Other accolades include honorable mention at the 2024 Sphinx Competition, second place at the ENKOR International Music Competition, multi-year recipient of the Marin Music Chest Scholarship including the Robert Greenwood Award for Outstanding Performance, Black Violin Foundation Dreamers Award, and performing at the Junior Bach Festival for three consecutive years. Sydney is the violinist for the Onde Trio, which was the recipient of the Above and Beyond Chamber Music Award at SFCM. They were also selected to perform at the 2024 East Bay Chamber Music Festival, and won second prize at ENKOR International Music Competition and the 2024 MIMA Young Artist Competition. Sydney is the Co-Concertmaster of the MSYO and has enjoyed leading the large ensemble over two wonderful seasons. She has performed in master classes for Danielle Belen, Jessie Montgomery, and Simone Porter. During the past three summers, Sydney has attended Center Stage Strings (2023, 2024) and the Sphinx Performance Academy (2022, 2023). In the fall, Sydney will be attending ninth grade at the Branson School.