Shuying Li Releases Landmark Wind Ensemble Album Charting Journey from Grief to Creative Triumph

Internationally acclaimed composer Shuying Li has released a significant new album featuring wind ensemble works performed by several of America's most distinguished musical groups. The collection, released by UK label https://www.rmnmusic.com and produced by Rick Romano, spans nearly a decade of Li's compositional career and captures her artistic journey from personal tragedy to creative triumph. Available worldwide on all major streaming platforms, the album represents a milestone in contemporary wind literature and showcases Li's distinctive voice within the classical music landscape.

The album opens with In This Breath (2025), performed by the Baylor Wind Ensemble under J. Eric Wilson with Li herself at the piano. Written during a period of profound grief, the work serves as both elegy and rebirth. Wilson describes the piece as deeply intimate and poignant, noting its transparent vulnerability juxtaposed with impassioned declarations of love and loss. The work provides musical space for processing grief while honoring life's most precious blessings, demonstrating how art can transform personal experience into universal expression.

Luminance (2023), performed by The President's Own United States Marine Band under Jason Fettig, transforms winds into radiant currents of color and energy. Fettig characterizes Li's music as both viscerally engaging and endlessly colorful, noting her exceptional ability to write for the special capabilities of wind instruments. He predicts her works will continue to be an essential part of the contemporary canon, signaling their lasting impact on wind repertoire and performance practice.

Starry Ocean (2024), brought to life by the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble under Jason Caslor, creates shimmering sonic landscapes that transport listeners on an auditory journey. Kung Fu (2019), performed by the Illinois Wind Symphony under Kevin M. Geraldi, merges cultural tradition with universal ideals, capturing the spirit and philosophy of Chinese culture while aspiring toward harmonious society. The work demonstrates Li's ability to bridge cultural divides through musical expression.

The album includes Slippery Slope, performed by the Eastman Wind Orchestra under Luke Camarillo, which represents Li's dazzling debut work for winds. Camarillo affirms that the piece reinforces her status as one of the most distinctive and compelling composers currently writing for winds. The collection concludes with The Last Hive Mind (2018), performed by the Foot in the Door Ensemble under Glen Adsit, an early work that foreshadows Li's mature compositional voice.

Reflecting on the release, Li describes the album as capturing the unfiltered energy of live performance, infused with breath, adrenaline, and spirit. She notes that In This Breath marked her return to composing after grief, while The Last Hive Mind reflects the beginnings of her creative voice. Together, these bookends chart both her personal journey and the endless possibilities ahead. The composer expresses deep gratitude to the conductors, ensembles, and wind band community that continue to inspire and champion her work.

This release represents more than just a collection of compositions; it documents an artistic evolution that mirrors human experience. For the wind ensemble community, the album provides substantial new repertoire from a composer whose works are increasingly recognized as essential contributions to contemporary literature. For listeners, the music offers emotional resonance and artistic insight, demonstrating how personal transformation can yield creative works of lasting significance. The collaboration between international artists and prestigious American ensembles also highlights the global nature of contemporary classical music and the continuing vitality of cross-cultural artistic exchange.