Steven Li was born in Guiyang, China, and began violin study at age four. He was a top prize winner at China Youth Violin Competition before he came to the United States in 1999.

A graduate with top honors from Chicago College of Performing Arts and Interlochen Arts Academy, Steven has won numerous competitions and awards, including the top prizes of the Hellam Young Artist Competition and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. He also won concerto competitions at Chicago College of Performing Arts, Eastern Music Festival and the Festival Institute at Round Top. Steven is a recipient of the Eubie Blake Scholarship from Levine, Beldock and Hoffman, LLP.

Before joining Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in 2006, Steven was concertmaster of Civic Orchestra of Chicago and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for three years. He also has performed at Ravinia Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Spoleto Music Festival and Olympic Music Festival. His principal teachers include Robert Chen, Vadim Gluzman and Hal Grossman.