Grand Piano Series’ season-ending concert promises a mélange of musical experiences from a dazzling young piano violin duo: Ying Li and Shannon Lee. The depth and excitement of the music is rivaled only by the performers’ high-wattage flair.

After garnering top awards in numerous national and international competitions, both artists now delight in performing their own solo favorites as well as collaborating in chamber music. Their local performance takes place at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in St. Leo Auditorium, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs.

Shannon Lee COURTESY PHOTO

Shannon Lee’s mother, who loved piano and guitar, at first brought her 3-year-old daughter to a piano teacher. The little girl’s hands weren’t quite equal to the keyboard, so her teacher suggested violin, which comes in smaller sizes.

“When I was 4, I listened to one violin lesson and was completely riveted,” Lee remembered. “It became a big part of my life.”

With parents who were engineers, she pursued a computer science degree at Columbia University. But an internship in computer programming convinced her that the violin and a musical career were her true destiny.

Ying Li SHERVIN-LAINEZ / COURTESY PHOTO

Virtuosic 24-year-old pianist Ying Li began piano lessons at age 5 in China, where her uncle was a conservatory trained church organist.

“Ever since I was a baby girl,” she said, “I was fascinated to see my uncle playing at services. At first I punched at the piano keys with my fists, but my uncle told me to open up my fingers.”

Luckily, she’s come a long way since outgrowing her punching technique.

President and Artistic Director Milana Strezeva said of the pair, “Ying Li amazed audiences at our ChamberFest last year with a captivating rendition of Stravinsky’s ‘Firebird.’ Joining her onstage this year is Shannon Lee, a wonderful violinist and top prize winner of the Queen Elizabeth Competition in Belgium.”

The two young stars, who last performed together as Curtis Institute of Music students, have put their heads together to craft a flowing grand finale program of piano and violin virtuosity, climaxing in a passionate wartime Poulenc sonata for violin and piano.

Lee spoke of her love of the less commonly played “Telemann Violin Fantasia” in E minor, a solo that she felt invited her to participate in its language and improvise more than Bach’s works.

“I also love chamber music,” said Ying, who has formed her own piano trio. “How it has changed from Schubert’s small-salon music writing to Poulenc’s passion. Given my rigorous solo and concerto touring schedule, chamber music is like coming back to my comfort zone, like my afternoon cup of tea.”

After the performance, the season will conclude with a post-concert reception with light refreshments open to all.

ONILNE PRE-CONCERT TALK

In a season finale online pre-concert talk at 11 a.m. April 20, Magdalena Baczewska (concert pianist and harpsichordist and director of the Music Performance Program at Columbia University) explores what makes the instrumental idiom unique. How have composers such as Shubert, Liszt and Ravel over many centuries gone about finding the suitable language for each instrument? What is required to make them shine separately and dazzle together?

The lecture will be held virtually via Zoom. Register for the event at grandpianoseries.org to get the Zoom link. For help registering, call 469-333-3231. ¦

In the KNOW

GRAND PIANO SERIES: 

Ying Li/Shannon Lee

· Wednesday, April 24, 3:00 p.m.

· St. Leo Auditorium, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs.

· Purchase tickets in advance for $45 ($50 at the door) at grandpianoseries.org.

For assistance, call 469-333-3231.