2026 Adjudicators

Lina Cao is a guzheng virtuoso celebrated for her profound contributions to Chinese traditional music and her visionary fusion of Eastern and Western traditions. Spanning continents, she has redefined guzheng artistry, breaking cultural boundaries and establishing herself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Chinese music.

Beginning her studies at the age of five, Lina trained under China’s top masters — Wang Wei, Ren Jie, Yanai Hua, and Li Meng — and earned degrees from Nanjing University of the Arts and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Her performances, combining tradition and innovation, have graced prestigious stages such as Musikverein Wien, Carnegie Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Lina has collaborated with leading ensembles including the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra, London Symphonia, Toronto Chinese Orchestra, Canadian Arabic Orchestra, and Vienna Modern Symphony Orchestra. She has worked with conductors such as Pang JiaPang, Chih-sheng Chen, and Matthew Poon, and composers including He Zhanhao, Alice Ho, and Sandeep Bhagwati, premiering works that expand the expressive possibilities of the guzheng.

Her accolades include the Golden Bell Award (2012), Wenhua Award (2008), and double gold prizes at the Singapore International Chinese Arts Festival (2008). She was also nominated for Outstanding Chamber Performance at the 40th Dora Mavor Moore Awards (2017), with performances broadcast by CBC Music and Chicago’s WFMT Radio Network.

As founder and music director of the Toronto Guzheng Ensemble, Lina has led the group in premiering innovative works across North America and Europe. A devoted educator, she is the first guzheng instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University and a frequent guest lecturer at institutions such as the University of Toronto and York University. Through her artistry, Lina continues to bring new vitality to the guzheng and its place on the global stage.

Learn more about Lina here: https://www.linacao.com/