“Jordan Li-Smith ensured Ahrens & Flaherty’s songs were realised in the best way possible, performed by a phenomenal orchestra...the stunning music has arguably never sounded better.”
— All That Dazzles, on 'Once on This Island' in concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
About
Hailing from Wrexham, North Wales, Jordan Li-Smith is a multi-award-winning composer, lyricist, writer, conductor, arranger, orchestrator, performer and pianist. His musicals have been praised as “heartfelt, enchanting and ambitious” (All Things Theatre), while his musical direction has been described as “impeccable” (The Stage), and his conducting as “a ferocity, an impassioned clarity, that reminds one of Leonard Bernstein” (Live Theatre UK). He has twice won the Offie for Best Musical Director and the BroadwayWorld UK Award for Best Musical Direction.
Rope Drop: The Unofficial Disney Parks Comedy — an autobiographical comedy co-written and performed with Ayesha Patel — is transferring to The Other Palace for three performances this September. Later this month, Jordan will be appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe as a special guest in An Evening with Anoushka Lucas at Shedinburgh, presented by Birmingham Hippodrome.
Jordan’s newest musical, One Tiny Penguin — written with Julie Tsang — has been commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome and will receive its world premiere at the Patrick Studio in December 2026.
In February 2026, he made his West End debut as musical director of the highly acclaimed Once on This Island in concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, conducting a 16-piece orchestra in a newly expanded orchestration. Composer Stephen Flaherty described his musical direction as “brilliant”.
Earlier this year, Theo in Between — written with Gareth Mattey — received a 45-minute reading at The Other Palace as part of its Musical Bites series. Originally commissioned by British Youth Music Theatre, the musical premiered at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds in August 2025 and received four BroadwayWorld UK Award nominations, including Best New Musical. Most recently, "Earth to Theo" was selected as one of 12 finalists for the 2026 Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize.
He is currently developing his new musical 73 Seconds with producer Danielle Tarento, inspired by the events of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Initially developed at Birmingham Hippodrome, the musical was selected for BEAM2025. He is also writing the score for a musical adaptation of the novel The Colour of Bea Larkham's Murder with librettist Michael Conley and producer Hannah Leonard.
His musical adaptation of The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair, based on the novel by Lara Williamson, won the National Youth Music Theatre's Best New Writing Award and premiered at Leicester Curve in 2023, where it was hailed “a divine new musical full of warmth” (East Midlands Theatre) and “a triumph” (Theatre and Tonic). It received twelve BroadwayWorld UK Award nominations, including Best New Musical.
Jordan is a three-time finalist for the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song Prize, with previous finalist songs including "Fly" from 73 Seconds and "Height Lines" from The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair. His song "Better Day", originally performed by Olivier-nominated Lauren Drew, won the New York Drama League’s Anthems for the Future of Theater. The song was performed by Tony Award-winning actress Bonnie Milligan at a Drama League benefit in New York, honouring Broadway actor and comedian Wayne Brady.
Photo by Miriam Pancheva.
Jordan conducting Alex Newell singing 'Mama Will Provide' in Once on This Island in concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Photo by Danny Kaan.
With over a decade of experience in music direction, Jordan has worked on new musicals, UK premieres and landmark revivals. He served as musical director of the 2025 China tour of tick, tick... BOOM! Other credits include Musical Director for the Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again (Leeds Playhouse, Riverside Studios, UK Tour) and the 2023 China Tour of Titanic. He also musically supervises the development of the cult musical Starry, based on the life of Vincent van Gogh, and made his West End conducting debut with the Olivier Award-winning revival of City of Angels, where he was Assistant Musical Director.
Jordan is also the UK Musical Director and coach for Tony-nominated Broadway star and acclaimed concert artist Melissa Errico. They have collaborated on her Ronnie Scott's debut, The Summer Knows, a celebration of Michel Legrand, and her Cadogan Hall debut, Sondheim in the City, for which Jordan served as Associate Musical Director.
Jordan has earned Off-West End awards for Ragtime (Charing Cross) and for Michael John LaChiusa’s Queen of the Mist (Jack Studio/Charing Cross), which also saw him conduct and supervise the acclaimed Original London Cast Recording. He was Associate Conductor for The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (The Other Palace). Other London credits as musical director and/or supervisor include Berlusconi, The Lion, Dave Malloy’s Preludes (Southwark Playhouse), the UK premiere of Amour (Charing Cross, +orchestrations), Kirsten Childs’ The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin (Theatre Royal Stratford East) and Anything Goes (The Other Palace). He was Associate Music Director for the Off-West End revival of Songs for a New World at Upstairs at the Gatehouse.
He received a BroadwayWorld UK Award for the world premiere of The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (Theatr Clwyd). Other selected regional credits include the Offie-winning deaf-inclusive production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Manchester Cathedral), Chess (Leicester Curve) and One Man Two Guvnors (Bolton Octagon/UK Tour). He is also a sought-after music director for leading UK drama colleges, with selected productions including A Little Night Music and Les Misérables (Mountview), Merrily We Roll Along (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Arts Ed) and Next to Normal (Royal Academy of Music).
Jordan is an accomplished cabaret pianist and performer, and has collaborated with artists including Chlöe Hart, Ayesha Patel, Lucy Penrose and Keith Ramsey. For the Elton John musical biopic film Rocketman, Jordan was Children’s Casting Musical Director and also made a very brief on-screen cameo.
Jordan studied at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded the Sir Elton John Scholarship and the Ian Fleming Musical Theatre Award (Help Musicians). In 2025, he was awarded Associateship of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for his significant contributions to musical theatre. Jordan is a proud member of Mercury Musical Developments and their Advanced Lab II.
Jordan with Tony-nominated Broadway star and concert artist Melissa Errico, following her Cadogan Hall debut. He continues to collaborate with her on her UK appearances.
Photo by Miriam Pancheva.
Jordan with Stephen Flaherty at the Morgan Library in New York City. They have maintained a close creative relationship since working on Ragtime at Charing Cross Theatre in 2016.
Jordan with Bonnie Milligan after a performance of Kimberly Akimbo. She performed his song "Better Day" at the Drama League's Anthems for the Future of Theater benefit in New York City.
Writing Awards
Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize
Earth to Theo, from Theo in Between (Finalist - 2026)
Fly, from 73 Seconds (Finalist - 2025)
Height Lines, from The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair (Finalist - 2023)
BroadwayWorld UK Award
Theo in Between
(4 nominations in total, including Best New Musical)
The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair
(12 nominations in total, including Best New Musical)
The Drama League's Anthems for the Future of Theater
Better Day (Winner)
British Youth Music Theatre New Music Theatre Award
Theo In Between (Finalist)
National Youth Music Theatre's Best New Writing Award
The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair (Winner)
Music Direction Awards
Off West End Award, Best Musical Director
Ragtime (Winner)
Queen of the Mist (Winner)
Amour (Finalist)
BroadwayWorldUK Award, Best Musical Direction
The Assassination of Katie Hopkins (Winner)
Here You Come Again (Nominated)
Chess (Nominated)
Berlusconi (Nominated)
Theo in Between (Nominated)
AlsoRecognised Award, Best Musical Director
Ragtime (Runner Up)
Testimonials
"Jordan Li-Smith brilliantly music-directed Once on This Island in concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Always a joy to work with, Jordan not only meticulously guided the actors through the musical score but also conducted an all-new orchestral expansion for the show written especially for the evening. On a very tight schedule he delivered big time, and with joy.
It has been a pleasure watching Jordan grow and mature as both a music director and a composer, since we first met at the Charing Cross Theatre’s production of Ragtime ten years ago, where he not only music-directed the show but memorized the three-hour score! Yes, he is an over-achiever. And he’s only beginning. Can’t wait to see what the future brings."
Stephen Flaherty
composer of RAGTIME, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, ANASTASIA and others
"I have worked with Jordan several times, most notably as Musical Director on Ragtime at Charing Cross Theatre. Ours was an actor-musician production, which required all the players to be off-book. Jordan memorised the entire score and played it beautifully, sometimes with each hand on a different piano and while being swung around the stage on moving platforms! It was a sight to behold. He’s also the nicest, most dedicated man one could ask to work with."
Danielle Tarento
Producer & Casting Director
"Jordan was an absolute joy to work with. His rehearsal flow is effortless and his ability to collaborate smoothly and congenially is second to none."
Simon Nathan
Orchestrator of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND in Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
"Jordan is a wonderful collaborator who matches an almost encyclopaedic knowledge and respect for music in theatre with a strong creative instinct, a sharp wit and a heart full of empathy towards those who work with him."
Dean Johnson
Director of STARRY
"It was an absolute delight to work with Jordan as composer, co-lyricist and orchestrator on his hugely ambitious new musical, Theo in Between. The score, whilst cleverly drawing on musical theatre and pop references from the time in which the piece is set (1990s), has a fierce originality; the songs are complex, vibrant and effectively drive the story and characters forwards. From delicious harmonies in large choral numbers to soaring single voice ballads and witty, playful patter songs, Jordan writes emotionally layered lyrics and irresistibly catchy tunes that linger in the mind long after the curtain has come down. "
Emily Gray
Chief Executive and Creative Director of British Youth Music Theatre
"Jordan was a real asset to our production of The Lion, a one-man musical. He brought such an eye for detail and in so many subtle ways, adding so much colour and nuance to the songs that truly enhanced the storytelling. Being a solo show, Jordan was also crucial in providing advice and vocal techniques for our actor to support him through such a vocally demanding role. I'd absolutely work with him again.
Alex Thomas
Director of THE LION
"I love working with Jordan. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious, his command and sheer knowledge a joy to share in. Plus, he loves Judy Garland. I would work with him again in a heartbeat."
Matt Ryan
Director
"Jordan is a singularly excellent music director. His sensitivity to an actor’s process and how that inspires them to have a greater sense of strengthening their musical acting is unparalleled in the industry. His masterful command of everything from small bands to full-size symphony orchestras, and how quickly he can create a unified ensemble, is a testament to his exceptional talent. Jordan also has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the musical form and from this, he is able to make creative and exciting decisions that have perfectly informed and made my productions better."
Alex Sutton
Director of PRELUDES, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Manchester Cathedral and others
"Jordan is an extraordinarily talented and brilliant MD, a superlative musician and generous collaborator. I loved working with him, and will do so again at every opportunity."
James Grieve
Director of THE ASSASSINATION OF KATIE HOPKINS & former Artistic Director of Paines Plough