Yangrui Cai

Yangrui Cai (b. 2000) is a Chinese pianist whose poetic sensitivity and refined artistry have earned him acclaim on international stages. He grew up in Shunde, Guangdong, in a family with no musical background and began learning piano at the age of four, purely out of his own fascination. At eight, he began formal study with Professor Jay Sun, and at twelve, he commenced devoted studies with Dr. Vivian Li, whose mentorship shaped his early development as an artist. At fifteen, he was admitted to the Middle School Affiliated to the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, where he studied until graduating with distinction in 2019.

During his time at Xinghai, under the tutelage of Vivian Li, Yangrui earned top prizes in major competitions across China and abroad. Highlights include the Steinway National Piano Competition, Yamaha Asia Music Scholarship Competition, China Golden Bell National Piano Competition, the Jury’s Special Prize at the 2019 Sendai International Piano Competition, Third Prize at the Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Competition, and First Prize at the Oberlin International Piano Festival Competition. He was also invited by the Animato Foundation to perform a solo recital at Salle Cortot in Paris as part of their Outstanding Pianists series, following acclaim at the 2019 Hamamatsu International Piano Competition.

Upon graduation, Yangrui was offered full and major scholarships from leading U.S. conservatories including Oberlin, Juilliard, Cleveland Institute of Music, and New England Conservatory. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Oberlin Conservatory and currently studies at the International Center for Music at Park University with Stanislav Ioudenitch, Gold Medalist of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Under Ioudenitch’s mentorship, Yangrui entered the next phase of his career, marked by deeper musical insight, stylistic maturity, and increasing international visibility.

Yangrui has since won First Prize at the 2023 Japan Piano Open International Piano Competition, Fourth Prize at the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition, and been recognized at the Sydney, Gina Bachauer, and Enescu competitions. In 2025, he became a semi-finalist at the Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he was awarded the Best Performance of a New Work—a significant achievement that affirmed his growing voice as a 21st-century young artist.

He has performed in recital throughout China, Japan, Germany, Denmark, Italy, France, Canada, and the United States, and appeared with major orchestras including the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and leading ensembles across China.