Gary Li is a Tuba player who graduated from Trinity Laban on the BMus Honours course in December 2025. He started playing the trumpet aged 12 and became a very fast learner on the instrument. At 15 he switched to Tuba, as it is a rarer instrument with a incredible tonal range. At the age of 18, he auditioned for Trinity Laban secured a place on the BMus course with Tuba as his first instrument.

Gary’s first teacher was Craig Burnett at Morehouse School in Surrey. Gary then studied under Leslie Neish (renowned tuba player, Principle Tuba teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music, and Professor of Tuba at Trinity Laban) for his first 3 years at Trinity Laban and Andy Kershaw (Tubist at Queen Victoria’s Consort and freelance musician) for his final year at Trinity Laban.

During his time at Trinity Laban, Gary has been a regular player in Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Brass Bands and smaller chamber groups. He has also played with external orchestras as a freelance musician, including the Royal Greenwich Brass Band and Guildford Symphony Orchestra.