National Events - Canada Rings! - Kamloops, British Columbia
Emily Li
Emily Li is an internationally acclaimed handbell conductor, soloist, composer, and educator whose artistry has influenced ensembles across Asia, Europe, and North America. Originally from Hong Kong and now based in Burlington, Ontario, she brings over 30 years of leadership and performance experience to the global handbell community. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Music Composition, grounding her work in strong musicianship and creative insight.
Emily started her handbell journey in 1986 and later pursued extensive advanced training in the United States, including formal study in the Graduate Program in Handbells at Concordia University Wisconsin, where she trained under leading masters of the art. She currently serves as Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Handbell Academy and the Hong Kong Youth Handbell Ensemble, Chairperson of the Handbell Association of Hong Kong, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Ministry of Bellz in Singapore. Through Canada Handbell Service, she continues to cultivate community engagement and handbell education across Canada.
A visionary advocate for handbell development, Emily founded the Hong Kong Handbell Academy (2004), the Hong Kong Youth Handbell Ensemble (2005), and the Handbell Association of Hong Kong (2006). She established the annual Hong Kong Handbell Festival, and under her leadership, Hong Kong became an official member of the International Handbell Committee.
Emily has conducted and taught at major international events, including Handbell Musicians of America’s All-Stars Choir (2014), Distinctly Teens (2018), Area 1 Festival Conference (2023), Distinctly Bronze East (2024), the Handbell Ringers of Singapore Festival (2019), the UK's National Residential Ringing Week (2015, 2023), Provincial Guild’s Festivals in Canada (2024, 2025), and multiple International Handbell Symposia. She has served as Massed Ringing Director or International Conductor at symposia in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024, and has been a regular faculty member at HMA’s National Seminar and the International Handbell Symposium since 2012.
As a soloist, Emily has performed on prominent stages across Hong Kong, China, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Estonia, the United States, and Canada. Recent highlights include the world premiere of Michael J. Glasgow’s Concerto for Castings in Toronto (2024) and her featured solo appearance at the Pinnacle Music Showcase in Wichita, Kansas (2025). Her compositions and arrangements are published internationally.
Emily’s work is defined by musical excellence, artistic sensitivity, and a deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of handbell performers around the world.
Workshop Details:
Friday, November 6 Workshop for Directors/Leaders:
Expressive Conducting – Exploring Musical Nuance through Laban’s Movement Language
This workshop is designed for experienced conductors who wish to explore greater musical nuance through the application of Laban’s Movement Language. Participants will experience Laban’s eight basic efforts through guided body movement and apply these concepts to handbell music excerpts, examining how weight, time, space, and flow shape expressive conducting gestures. The session focuses on translating musical intention into clear, effective non-verbal communication that encourages confident, musical ringing and deeper ensemble responsiveness.
Saturday, November 7 Workshop for All Ringers/Leaders:
Ringing Musically – Beyond the Notes
Handbells are a highly dynamic instrument closely connected to the ringer’s body. This workshop is designed for ringers and conductors of all levels who wish to explore musical expression through greater awareness of mind and body movement. Through guided exercises and musical examples, participants will examine how physical awareness, listening, and intentional motion influence tone production, phrasing, and ensemble blend. Concepts are scalable from foundational skills to advanced refinement, allowing each participant to discover new possibilities for producing a more expressive, musical, and confident performance.
