Kao Kai-yi was born in Taiwan in 1984. She graduated in 2009/10 with distinction- Artist Diploma for piano and composition from the Vienna’s Franz Schubert Conservatory, as well as master degree for composition (with prof. Michael Jarrell) in 2014 from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

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Her compositions include solo pieces for various instruments, chamber music pieces, vocal music pieces and works for large orchestra. Her piece was selected as a assigned piece of Vaduz international masterclass 2007 in Liechtenstein. In 2009 she was a finalist of the International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition in Greece and also received the Special Award. In 2014 she won the 2nd prize for the 14th Carl von Ossietzky Composition Competition Oldenburg and also won the 2nd prize in 2016 of the Hearing Orpheus Today composition competition in Malta. In the same year, she was selected as the composer for the program TMI (Master Disciples and Companion) of the National Center for Traditional Arts, as well as the Gender-Projekt Holz-Blech-Schlag in 2017 and 2018 commissioned by the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. In 2017 She won the 3rd prize for the Voice of the New and Brilliant- Composition Competition 2017- NTSO (National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra) in Taiwan. In 2019 she won the 1st prize for the Augusto Massari Composition Competition in Italy, the piece was also published by the publisher Diaphonia Music Edition. In the same year, her piece was published by the publisher Redshift Music in the CD-album “Lutalica”, witch was played by the flutist Mark McGregor. As well as the ather pieces were published by the publisher Doblinger. Her compositions have been performed in Austria, German, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Greece, Italy, Malta, England, Canada, Japan and Taiwan.

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She works as composer and musician in Vienna and has been also teaching piano, composition, music texture and ear training at the Vienna’s Franz Schubert Conservatory since 2011.