Shih-Kai Lin

“His interpretation was notable for a keen understanding of the emotional and structural shape of the music… His playing breathed with intensity, drama and solitude.”  Houston Chronicle

Shih-Kai Lin is a multi-faceted violinist constantly seeking ways to communicate with audience through music. Mr. Lin’s desire to extend the borders of classical music has allowed him to explore music that speaks to his heart and to share his music with audiences in various settings. 

As an active performer, Mr. Lin has toured internationally as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral member. Among some recent engagements as a soloist, Mr. Lin has performed at the Taiwan Presidential concert, appeared with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony, Houston Symphony, Quincy Symphony, and the World Civic Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Mr. Lin has collaborated with such renowned artists such as Paul Biss, Martha Katz, Cho-Liang Lin, Jacques Loussier, Juanjo Mosalini, and the International Sejong Soloists. Mr. Lin has also participated and performed at prestigious festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, the Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival, and the La Jolla SummerFest.

In addition to performing standard classical music repertoire, Shih-Kai Lin also enjoys creative collaborations with performers and musicians of other genre. Mr. Lin has performed with Jazz pianist Jacques Loussier and modern dance company Rioult. He can also be heard on the movie sound tracks of  “Stand Up” (2009) and “Jump Ashin” (2011). Most recently, Mr. Lin has jointed force with contemporary improvisation musicians to produce a concert at Jordan Hall in Boston. In 2020, he commissioned Joel Hoffman to compose 10 pieces for Violin and Piano based on 10 Taiwanese children songs. 

Mr. Lin attended Walnut Hill School of the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts, where he studied with Marylou Speaker Churchill. Mr. Lin graduated from Walnut Hill School with honors and was the recipient of the Frances B. Lanier award from the New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School.  He was the first prize and the audience choice award winner of the 2006 Ima Hogg  Competition and awarded the Aspen Dorothy DeLay Fellowship. 

Mr. Lin was born in Taiwan and started his musical studies at the age of four. He holds both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Juilliard School under tutelage of Naoko Tanaka and Cho- Liang Lin. While studying at the Juilliard School, he had served as a concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra. Shih-Kai Lin holds a doctoral degree of Musical Arts from the New England Conservatory where he studied with Miriam Fried. During the summer, he has taught at the Atlantic Music Festival and Muse and Youth International Music Festival. Mr. Lin is currently the artistic director of the Tonebank International Music Academy and Festival, the director of education of the Taipei Music Academy and Festival, and he is on the violin faculty at the National Taiwan Normal University and National Taipei University of the Arts.