MGAM » Sheng Cai

Sheng Cai

Epitomizes the greatness of a romantic virtuoso

Born in China, he studied at Shanghai music conservatory with the chair of the piano department. In 1999, his family immigrated to Canada where he continued his training at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto with Marina Geringas and Andrew Burashko, also studying with Julian Martin at the Pre-college division at Juilliard School in New York. His training also includes private study in Canada with pianist Anton Kuerti. Cai received a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory in Boston with pianists Russell Sherman and HungKuan Chen, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree.

He performs frequently with leading orchestras such as Toronto, the Atlantic Symphony, Cathedral Bluffs, Québec, Fort Collins Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic, the Shanghai Opera Symphony, Kamloops, Kingston, Windsor, Winnipeg Symphony Chamber Players, amongst many others, and has worked with such eminent conductors as David Lockington, Keith Lockhart, Jim Kim, Robert Raines, Yoav Talmi, Wes Kenney and Victor Sawa.

“This is a young man with real talent…” William Littler, Toronto Star

“With great confidence, temperamental piano, impressive for its bravura… lucidity, breath, color and power.” Michael Huebner, Birmingham News

“…impeccable articulation and brilliant execution…” Peter Milner, Lindsay Post
Depth of interpretation in music and maturity beyond his age… Rarely to be seen among talented pianists today.
Ran Guo, Ming Press

As a recitalist, Cai has performed throughout North America, in venues that include the Steinway Hall in New York, Boston’s College Club and Jordan Hall, Alys Stephen Center in Alabama and the Cleveland Playhouse. In China, he was the first artist to open a recital at Ningbo Concert Hall. In Canada he has performed at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio, Association of the Symphony, and at the Elora and Barrie Festivals. The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Toronto Star, the Birmingham News, the Ming Press and the Lindsay Post have favourably reviewed his performances.

As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with numerous groups, including the Enso String Quartet. Sheng Cai has recorded for the CBC and was invited to take part in the filming of a DVD of Franz Liszt works by Ophra Yerushalmi. As a teen, Cai was a prizewinner at top competitions and a finalist and special prize winner at the Bozendorfer International Piano Competition in Arizona; finalist at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition in South Carolina; and top winner at the Julia Crane International Piano Competition in Potsdam, New York. In Canada, he was the youngest winner of both the Toronto and Montréal Symphony piano competitions.