About
“Life is a constant source of inspiration. Every interaction, emotion, and experience—whether joyful or challenging—adds depth to my music. Staying curious and open to the world helps me grow, both as an artist and as a person.”
Yangrui Cai began his piano studies at age 4, though none of his family had any music- or art-related background; he heard his preschool friends playing and begged his mother for lessons. At 15, he joined China’s Xinghai Conservatory of Music Middle School, where he studied with Vivian Li and Jay Sun. In his words: “I decided to pursue music professionally during high school when I realized the piano was the most natural way for me to express emotions I struggled to communicate otherwise.” Upon his graduation with distinction in July 2019, he was admitted to several prestigious conservatories in the United States with full scholarships. He completed his bachelor’s at Oberlin Conservatory and now studies in Kansas City at the International Center of Music at Park University, both under the tutelage of 2001 Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch.
Yangrui has taken top prizes in all major Chinese national competitions and has since earned recognition on the international stage. Recently, he won first prize at the 2023 “Japan Piano Open” International Piano Competition and fourth prize at the 2023 Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition. He is also a laureate of competitions such as Sendai (Japan), Sydney (Australia), USASU (USA), among many others. Concertizing from an early age, he has given solo recitals in China, Japan, Germany, Denmark, Italy, France, Canada, and the United States; and appeared as soloist with the Hong Kong Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra in China; Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan; TIMM Ensemble in Italy; Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Orchestra; Armenian State Symphony Orchestra; and Kansas City Chamber Orchestra.
An artist of varied interests—ranging from painting to cooking to drone flying—Yangrui’s commitment to music is distinct: “My goal is to grow as both an artist and communicator, leaving a lasting impact by sharing the relevance and beauty of this music with as many people as possible.”