Darren Cai, born and raised in New York, started his viola studies at the age of 12 and is currently a pupil under Yi-Fang Huang at Juilliard Pre-College. His accolades include winning the Grand Prize in the 2024 Enkor Competition. Cash Prize & First Place in the 2023 Prima Volta Music Competition, Cash Prize & First Place in the 2024 Prima Volta Music Competition Summer Edition, Second Place in age 10-12 in the 2023 International Grande Music Competition.
Darren is also passionate about orchestral and chamber music. He currently studies chamber music under Jia Kim and recently performed Beethoven's String Quartet No.4 in Juilliard’s Wilson Theatre as part of the Fiorente Quartet. They also recently received the second place prize in the 2025 Camerata Artists International Competition. Darren is also a member of the Juilliard Pre-College String Orchestra where he studies under cellist, conductor, and educator Nico Olarte-Hayes, and performed in Juilliard’s Paul Hall as principal violist and Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. Back in his hometown of Syosset, New York, he is part of a Piano Quartet under the care of Cindy Song. They performed at Lincoln center’s Rose Studio as part of the Chamber Music Society’s 27th Young Ensembles Concert. He was also a part of the 2022 Nassau County Lunar New Year Concert. He will also perform as a soloist with the H.B.T Middle School Chamber Orchestra in June of 2025.
Besides the Viola, Darren is also interested in photography and science. He recently acquired a Canon Powershot G7X Mark III and a OM Systems TG-7 Tough. In his free time he enjoys learning about Science.
