李永剛(1911-1995),作曲家、音樂教育家。出生於河南太康,從小跟隨父親李錫昌學習風琴,開始接觸音樂。1931年考入南京中央大學音樂系,主修作曲,在學期間,師從學成歸來的教授們習得各類音樂知識及技能,影響他音樂之路甚鉅。1949年遷臺,任新竹師範學校教務主任;1956年任教於國防部政工幹校(今政治作戰學校),積極提升音樂系專業水準,並推廣音樂創作。1977年退休後,以音樂文字來宣揚其音樂創作理念,主要論述有《指揮法》、《作曲法》等書。1985年,擔任教育部甫成立的國立編譯館編審委員會主任委員,審訂國小音樂課本。一生致力於音樂教育推廣,創作超過一百五十多所學校的校歌,並榮獲教育部六藝獎章、第一屆師鐸獎、亞洲作曲家聯盟中華民國總會特別貢獻獎等,教育英才,不遺餘力。
LI Yong-Gang was born in Taikang, Henan in 1910. His father, Li Xi-Chang, taught him how to play organ when he was a child, which was the beginning of his music education. He moved to Taiwan with his family in 1949, teaching at Ministry of National Defense’s War School. After retiring, he started writing about his thoughts on modern Chinese music composition. His most important writings include “Conducting,” “Composition,” and “Soundless Music.” He dedicated his life to music education. He wrote school songs for more than 150 schools. Li was awarded the Ministry of Education’s Medal for the Six Arts and the first Teacher’s Award. He died in Taipei in 1995.