Among the 44 participants selected to compete in the world’s foremost international competition for young violinists this year, Australian Christian Li is one of the youngest at just ten years old. Placed in the junior pool of competitors at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, Li will bring with him a repertoire that includes the first two movements from Bach’s Sonata No 4, an improvisation on Wieniawski’s Etude-Caprice, and a selection of Dvořák’s Romantic Pieces.

“I am so happy to know that I was selected to take part in the Menuhin Competition,” Li said in a video. “Since I am still young, I would like to treat this as a fun, exciting learning experience more than a competition. What I most look forward to is the chance to meet my heroes and favourite violin masters in person, and play in front of them. I am also looking forward to meeting and learning from the other outstanding violinists from other parts of the world, and to make life-long friends.”

Li began violin lessons at the age of five, and currently studies with Dr Robin Wilson, Head of...