Eric Tsai is an up and coming Taiwanese-American violinist whose playing has been described as both “dashing” and “heart-wrenching” (NZ Herald), and whose thoughtful approach to old and new works alike has earned him a place on stages across the globe. The 2nd prize winner of the 2019 Michael Hill International Violin competition, Eric has garnered critical acclaim as a soloist and chamber player, as well as a champion of music from his home country of Taiwan. Simultaneously, he is a committed educator, passionate about raising up the next generation of young musicians, and maintaining a highly successful private pre-college studio.

Performing as a featured artist throughout the United States, Europe, Taiwan, and New Zealand, Eric is deeply committed to spreading hope and light to audiences around the world through his art. In 2021, at the height of the worldwide pandemic, his quartet partnered with Taiwan Connection’s education outreach program and traveled to elementary schools situated in under-reached communities across the country. Other past community engagement projects include performances at homeless shelters, hospitals, and veteran homes across New York and Philadelphia. Highlights of the 2024-2025 season include the inaugural season of his summer festival, SPIRITUS, continued residencies with Callis Ensemble, and a new music video series exploring the themes of grief and hope.

Eric’s mentors include Catherine Cho, Ida Kavafian, and Shmuel Ashkenasi, and he has also worked closely with renowned artists such as Pamela Frank, Peter Wiley, Joseph Lin, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Joseph Silverstein. Recent awards include the semifinals at the Premio Paganini competition in Genoa, Italy, bronze medal at the Fischoff Competition with his piano trio, the prestigious Chimei Arts Award, and his quartet, Quatuor Cael, being selected as an Honors ensemble at Juilliard for the 2022-23 season. Eric received his B.M. from the Curtis Institute of Music and his M.M. from the Juilliard School, and is currently a doctoral candidate at StonyBrook University as a Staller Fellow.