I’ve had a passion for piano ever since I was 1 years old. As soon as I learned how to walk, I walked over to play my aunts piano because of my curiosity of the mysterious 88 key instrument. Throughout the years, my curiosity had grown. What had been driven by urge to learn Fur Elise when I officially started playing piano, had turned into an urge to play the most complex pieces. I have been interested in piano longer than I can talk and ever since then, I graduated level 8 CM and is currently working on reaching level 10. I wish that if I win — my piano curiosity, like water to a plant, will grow and grow into a huge General Sherman Tree.
Watch Aaron Cai perform Toccata (1932) by A. Khachaturian on the piano for the 2026 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.