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 of wind ensemble works through UK label RMN Classical, featuring performances by some of America's most prestigious ensembles. Released on October 3, 2025, and produced by Rick Romano, the album spans nearly a decade of Li's career, capturing her artistic journey from personal tragedy to creative triumph.

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 described the piece as deeply intimate and poignant, noting its transparent vulnerability juxtaposed with impassioned declarations of love and loss. The work represents Li's return to composing after personal tragedy and stands as a moving tribute that honors life's most precious blessings.

The collection demonstrates Li's evolving artistic voice across multiple ensembles and conductors. In Luminance (2023), performed by The President's Own United States Marine Band under Jason Fettig, Li transforms winds into radiant currents of color and energy. Fettig praised Li's music as both viscerally engaging and endlessly colorful, noting that her works will continue to be an essential part of the contemporary canon for wind ensembles.

Starry Ocean (2024), performed by the Arizona State University Wind Ensemble under Jason Caslor, creates shimmering sonic landscapes that take listeners on a 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 Li's Chinese culture while aspiring toward a harmonious society.

The album includes Slippery Slope, performed by the Eastman Wind Orchestra under Luke Camarillo, which represents Li's dazzling debut work for winds. Camarillo noted that the piece reaffirms Li 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 creative voice.

Reflecting on the release, Li described the album as capturing the unfiltered energy of live performance, infused with breath, adrenaline, and spirit. She noted that In This Breath marks 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 in her compositional career.

The album's importance extends beyond personal narrative to the broader wind ensemble repertoire. Li's works demonstrate exceptional expressive depth, vibrant instrumental color, and detailed craft that expands the technical and emotional possibilities of wind composition. The involvement of multiple prestigious ensembles underscores the significance of her contributions to contemporary classical music and the growing recognition of wind ensembles as vehicles for serious artistic expression.

Available worldwide on all major streaming platforms, this collection represents a milestone in contemporary wind literature and showcases Li's ability to create emotionally charged music that resonates with audiences while pushing the boundaries of the wind ensemble medium. The album serves as both a personal artistic statement and a significant contribution to the evolving canon of contemporary classical music.