Yan Cai was born in Hangzhou, China. At the age of 12 he was admitted to the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he studied with M. Yao, W. Chen, B. Wollenweber, and M. Mordvinov. Yan Cai is now studying at the Berlin University of the Arts Berlin with L. Blondeel. He has previously experimented with poetry, photography, painting and film, but is now concentrating on music. His repertoire covers a wide range, from chamber music to contemporary music and jazz. He recently won the Schnabel Competition at the UdK. He has given many performances in Asia, including at the Shanghai Musical Hall, Hangzhou Concert Hall and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Performance Hall.