Anyi Cai’s Musical Odyssey from Wuhan to the U.S.

A five-year-old girl sitting at the piano in her home in Wuhan, China, never imagined one day she would perform at the United Nations in New York City, United States of America. 

Almost twenty years later, Anyi matured into a wonderful pianist who specialises in solo and ensemble performances. 

Organist Dana Robinson praised her: “Anyi Cai has become an outstanding player, with great musicality and her own style. At the same time, she has also become a professional and artistic accompanist and performer.”

Audiences are often intrigued by the elegance and soulful depth of her performances. 

Besides the refinement on stage, Cai also aims to serve as a beacon of inspiration, tirelessly nurturing budding pianists and fostering a rich musical foundation for generations to come. 

Her relentless dedication to instilling the values of appreciation, perseverance, and creativity underscores her desire to cultivate a vibrant musical community. 

With a commitment to nurturing young talents and fostering a sense of belonging, she envisions playing a pivotal role in shaping the musical landscape for the next generation, where diversity, creativity, and mutual respect flourish.

Two Cultures, One Musical Dream

“Some people say music’s like poetry; others think it’s like a good glass of wine; and some feel it’s just the rhythm of life. But for me, it’s more like a big blossom tree or a pair of wings, lifting spirits and pushing us forward.” Anyi Cai grinned during the interview.

Anyi Cai was born into a musical family in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Her first music teacher is her cousin, who owns a music academy in Wuhan. 

She knew music would be her path in life when she entered the Piano Department of Wuhan Conservatory of Music Affiliated Middle School. 

She later studied with the associate piano professor, Man Wu, from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. 

Her musical journey in the States began in August 2012 with her acceptance into the Pre-College Advanced Music Division Programme at Millersville University of Pennsylvania under the guidance of Dr. Xun Pan, the head of the piano department of the ogram. 

Anyi Cai was later admitted to the Tell School of Music in Pennsylvania with the Dean Dutcher Music Memorial Scholarship and the Lancaster International Piano Festival Scholarship. 

During her college years, her mentors included maestra Vera Volchansky, a world-renowned music theorist and pioneer of Kodaly studies in the States; Micheál Houlahan, a respected English composer and musicologist; and Dr. Simon Andrews, among other distinguished professors from top-tier institutions in the world. 

As the first graduate of music performance majoring in both piano and harpsichord, she was an active music performer, collaborator, and experimentalist. 

She received invitations for performances from a multitude of venues, including local churches, retirement homes, and renowned concert halls throughout the United States. 

In 2022, Anyi Cai earned her Master of Music degree in Music Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of Dr. Charlotte Mattax Moersch with a full tuition scholarship. 

She is currently finishing her post-master’s degree in music at Yale University School of Music under the guidance of the world-renowned harpsichordist Arthur Haas. 

Besides being a graduate student, she serves as the harpsichord instructor at Yale University for secondary lessons. 

Based on her outstanding performance and artistic development, she was awarded the Harry and Margaret Simone Scholarship and the Stephen and Dennis Adams Scholarship, and she has grown into an illustrious young pianist and harpsichord player. 

Anyi Cai has been actively competing in various competitions since an early age and has achieved excellent results. 

Winning the Pennsylvania Louis Vyner Instrumental Competition in 2018, first prize in the Hubei Division of the Hong Kong International Piano Competition, and the third prize of the Liszt Memorial Award in the Hong Kong International Piano Competition in 2012, etc. 

During her studies in the United States, she received numerous invitations from music festivals, including the Washington International Piano Festival, Smarano International Organ Festival, and others. 

At the invitation of the presidents, Anyi Cai serves as a member of the Global Outstanding Chinese Artists Association and the Hubei Music Association in China, in light of her excellence in her profession.

Spreading the Seeds of Music

Anyi Cai claims that the passion for music expressed through performance is not enough but should also be disseminated through education. 

In this sense, she is both a pianist and an excellent music educator. She has actively carried out various music education activities while serving as a teaching assistant for initiatives in the New Haven Public Schools, a harpsichord instructor for secondary lessons at Yale University, and a piano instructor at the Fairfield School of Music. 

Cai mentioned that it is her lifetime artistic goal to convey the powers of music and create and expand a musical world of community. 

In September 2023, Anyi Cai performed at the United Nations for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) with the Morse Chorale. 

The performed work, The Seeds of Peace, is a heartwarming song specially dedicated to the Chorale arranged by the renowned American composer and choir conductor Geoffrey Hudson and the senior lyricists Mr. and Mrs. Pruett. 

This meaningful work fully expresses human desires for peaceful development with the topic of “peace.” 

“… It’s time to spread our light and spread our love, across time and space. We have the room inside our hearts to build a kinder place. We can repair the world, together, you and me. Feeling safe at home, sows the seeds of peace.”

The performance was the world premiere, and the Morse Chorale demonstrated excellent musical strength in the music venue of the United Nations headquarters under the musicianship of Anyi Cai. 

It leaves a deep impression on the audience. There were praises coming from officials from the United Nations International Consular Association after the show.

As the teaching artist and accompanist of the chorale, Anyi prepared for this performance for over two months with the ensemble and organised all members to rehearse relentlessly each week. 

Her efforts and guidance ran through every stage of performance, including vocal coaching, sectional rehearsing, and the ultimate performance. 

She actively communicated and discussed the style, interpretations, and arrangement of the song with composers and lyricists, and then provided suggestions to ensure that the song matched the performance style of the choir and fully demonstrated the musical talent of the choir members. 

During the rehearsal, she practiced with the children of the choir, providing them with guidance on musical techniques and musical expression. 

This helps them to understand the meaning conveyed by the music and lyrics and ensure that they can present musical works with their best musicianship. 

As the piano accompanist, Anyi Cai also played an integral role in this show, which served as not only the backbone for the choir members but also part of the soul of the show. 

Her precise and smooth support, in close coordination with the choir’s members, created a wonderful musical world that received numerous praises.

Looking ahead to the future, Anyi Cai hopes to bring more innovation and communication to music, build a bridge to overcome language and cultural barriers, evoke resonance in the hearts of humanity, and promote the harmonious development of the world through collaboration with musicians from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and languages. 

Anyi Cai claims that she will strive to spread beauty and hope through the power of music and contribute to society with her relentless passions and efforts.

Anyi Cai’s website: caianyi.com