James is 14 years old and a 9th grader at La Jolla High School. He started to learn piano at 5 with Mr. Anthony Do-Hoon Kim and learned to play violin when he was 8. In September 2018, he began to study under the direction of Ms. Healy Henderson. James currently plays violin in the Symphony Orchestra of San Diego Youth Symphony. He auditioned and got accepted into the Intermediate Piano Program at Interlochen Arts Camp during the summer of 2022 and 2023. In summer 2024, James played piano and violin in Idyllwild Arts Instrumental Artist’s Intensive. Besides playing piano and violin, he enjoys soccer, badminton, coding, chess, and Science Olympiad.
Watch James Cao perform Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, Op. 65, No. 6 by Grieg, Etude in G-Flat Major, Op. 10, No. 5 by Chopin, Prelude in F Minor, Op. 34, No. 18 by Shostakovich, Prelude in C Minor, BWV 847 by Bach and Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1 by Beethoven on the piano for the 2025 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.