On Sunday, October 18, operatic notes enveloped UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Richard Li ’27, a bass-baritone, took the stage to bring his solo concert, Aubade with Joy, to life. Despite battling illness in the weeks leading up to the performance, Richard delivered a stunning evening that radiated the love he has for music.
Richard started singing in 2024, and has since been awarded the Judges’ Distinction Award and three First Prizes at the American Protégé International Vocal Competition, leading to a performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He was also named Provincial Representative for voice at the Canadian Music Competition national finals.
The concert culminated his high school singing journey, featuring a repertoire spanning four languages significant to his musical growth—English, German, Italian, and Chinese—with works by composers including Mozart, Schumann, and Strauss. Joined by an orchestra, two choirs, and guest artists, Richard brought audiences together through an evening of classical music, from intimate art songs to theatrical operatic arias and duets: “to call it a concert is an understatement,” said Brian Shao ‘27. “Richard Li’s masterful performance invoked a life-changing sense of awe, disbelief, and inspiration.”
Other audience members shared similar sentiments: “A beautiful program, an exceptional performance and a worthy cause… an absolute delight and honour to attend!” said Andrea Jones, St. George’s Counsellor.
Yet beyond the night’s amazing performances underlies a greater purpose: a personal mission that Richard has dedicated his high school journey towards.
Growing up with speech impediments, music allows him to express himself in ways that conversations can not: “Music means the world to me,” said Richard. “Struggling through chronic diseases and a clipped tongue will isolate you, make you feel different from peers. Music and treatment helped me understand the mental and physical battles I fought growing up.” The BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has helped him greatly with his treatments. Music, to Richard, is his form of solace and a testament to achieving more despite struggling.
As the Co-President of the Firefly Youth Network (FYN), a youth-led nonprofit founded in 2021, Richard is now building a safe haven for young people to express themselves through their artistic practices. The FYN’s motto is that everyone carries a light of their own, no matter how faint or overlooked. After all, just as fireflies illuminate the darkness together, these individual passions can become a collective light: a light that allows young artists to individually shine, while brightening the lives of others. The concert alone raised $22,653 for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Mighty Music program, which supports children through music therapy.
For one evening, Richard’s love for music inspired everyone in the Chan Centre. As the final notes faded, Aubade with Joy’s impact continues to live in every attendee’s heart.
