Yang Yang Cai is a Dutch pianist based in The Netherlands. She has performed widely throughout Europe and Asia.

Yang Yang (b. 1998) began her piano studies at the age of five with Noor Relijk and later continued her education under the tutelage of renowned professor Jan Wijn. After ten years of study, she graduated with the highest distinction from the Conservatory of Amsterdam in 2019. In 2023, she earned her diploma from the prestigious Accademia Pianistica di Imola, where she studied with Enrico Pace. The following year, she completed her Master’s degree at the Conservatory of Amsterdam under the guidance of Frank van de Laar. Currently, Yang Yang is pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Royal College of Music in London with Norma Fisher.

Yang Yang is continually seeking new ways to bring depth and meaning to musical programs, often collaborating with artists and musicians from different genres. She actively explores new avenues to broaden her artistic reach. Since 2017, she has been a member of the Amsterdam Piano Trio, alongside violinist Shin Sihan and cellist Alexander Warenberg. Together, they have performed in prestigious venues, such as the Small Hall of the Concertgebouw, where they presented works by Beethoven, Ravel, and Shostakovich. “Playing with them is a wonderful experience every time,” she reflects.

In April 2023, Yang Yang made her debut in the Great Hall of the Concertgebouw, performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto to critical acclaim.

Over the years, Yang Yang has participated in masterclasses with esteemed pianists such as Ronald Brautigam, Boris Berman, Matti Raekallio, Jacques Rouvier, Klaus Hellwig, Alexander Gavrylyuk, and Arie Vardi. In 2019, she further refined her musicality through a workshop at Maria João Pires’ Belgais Center for Arts, focusing on deepening her personal connection with music.

Her performing career, which began at the age of nine, has taken her to many of the major concert halls in the Netherlands, including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Royal Theater Carré, DeLaMar Theatre, and Muziekgebouw Eindhoven. Internationally, she has graced the stage of Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, earning praise from critics.

Yang Yang is committed to an honest and sincere interpretation of the music she performs. She believes music is a universal language, and in each performance, she seeks to create a connection with her audience that goes beyond words. Through her transparent and heartfelt approach, she aims to make music accessible to everyone.

PRIZES

At just nine years old, Yang Yang represented the Netherlands at the International Steinway Festival in Hamburg, Germany. In 2015, she was invited to perform in Taipei by the Dutch Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan. She has participated in various festivals, including the Delft Chamber Music Festival, Grachtenfestival Amsterdam, Festival Wonderfeel, Lowlands Festival, International Chamber Music Festival Schiermonnikoog, and Aspen Music School and Festival.

Yang Yang has won numerous awards throughout her career. In 2008 and 2012, she took first prize at the Steinway Piano Competition (Netherlands). She also won the Junior Final of the Young Pianist Foundation Competition in 2013, performing Mozart’s 14th Piano Concerto with the Yehudi Menuhin School Orchestra. In 2017, she received the Classic Young Masters Award. Most notably, in 2019, she won the Grand Prix Youri Egorov at the Young Pianist Foundation Piano Competition, performing Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto under the baton of Jean-Bernard Pommier with the Conservatory of Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, she was awarded the Marina Bondarenko Memorial Prize at the Tel-Hai International Piano Masterclasses.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Yang Yang is grateful for the support she has received from numerous organizations, including the VandenEnde Foundation, Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds, Ars Donandi, NL Talentenfonds, Muziekfonds Stringendo, Fundatie van Renswoude The Hague, VSBfonds, Dr. Hendrik Muller Fonds, Cultuurfonds, Talent Unlimited, The Denne Gilkes Memorial Fund Scholarship. She also has the privilege of playing a Steinway & Sons D-274, generously provided by the Voorlinden Foundation.

Yang Yang is grateful to be supported by Talent Unlimited.