Wei Cao, from China. He is currently in his second year of master’s studies at the Eastman School of Music in the United States, where he has been awarded a Graduate Master’s Scholarship. He studied with international saxophonist Dr. Chien-Kwan Lin.

Wei Cao graduated from the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China, where he studied with the young Chinese saxophonist Yang Lou. During his time at the school, he was awarded the Professional Excellence Scholarship for several years, and received his Bachelor’s Degree with distinction and a successful solo recital. Wei Cao was the Principal Soprano and Sopranino in the L Saxophone Ensemble at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, and has participated in many international saxophone conferences and events.

As a saxophonist, Wei Cao has won several international awards, including the Champion of the 4th YAMAHA Cup (China) Saxophone Solo Competition in 2021, the First Prize of the Golden Classical Music Competition (New York, USA), and the First Prize of the Asia-Pacific International Instrumental Championships for saxophone soloist in the Young Professionals Final. In addition to competitions, Wei Cao has participated in many saxophone master classes and has been coached by many international saxophonists and educators.

Wei Cao is committed to promoting the fusion of Chinese folk music elements with the diverse techniques of the saxophone, and has personally commissioned Associate Professor Hui Zhu of the Department of Composition and Conducting at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music to compose a Chinese repertoire with Chinese folk elements for soprano and alto saxophone, saxophone ensemble and percussion – “The Flowers of Jamuren” – for the “玄兔·弄潮” concert hall of the Hangzhou Grand Theatre, where he performed his first solo for the soprano and alto saxophone. The world premiere of the saxophone chamber music work “Xuan Rabbit – Tidal Wave” was held in Hangzhou Grand Theater Concert Hall. In his undergraduate studies, he independently completed the dissertation “Analyzing the Application of Modern Saxophone Techniques in Ethnic Music”. This work was included in the “Chinese New Works for Saxophone Exhibition and Symposium” organized by the Saxophone Committee of Chinese Colleges and Universities, and Wei Cao was invited to Chengdu city, China to attend the symposium as a performer. Wei Cao has also premiered a number of works by Chinese composers as a saxophone soloist and in saxophone ensembles.

Wei Cao is currently a member of the soprano saxophone section of the Eastman Saxophone Project and the alto saxophone section of the Eastman Wind Ensemble under the direction of Professor Chien-Kwan Lin and Conductor Mark Davis Scatterday, respectively.