(FILE)

Li Biao, renowned Chinese-German percussionist will perform in the Mercedes-Benz International Music Festival 2011 to be held in Shanghai from August 18 to 21.

Born in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Li learned to play percussion instruments when he was only 5 years old. By the age of 7, he had performed as a soloist representing China in many countries. In 1988, Li became the first Chinese percussionist to study in Moscow at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He continued his music education in Germany after winning the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst scholarship.

Li is reckoned among a few outstanding solo percussionists in the world today. In 2005, he started his own percussion band, which is presently considered one of the best percussion groups in the world. The ensemble has performed at many famous arts festivals and musical events around the globe. In 2008, Li and his team were invited to perform at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and recorded all the percussion music for the closing ceremony. Li was also the art director of the First Mercedes-Benz International Music Festival in 2010.