Gema Lu Cai is a Spanish-Chinese pianist and pedagogue based in Manchester, UK. She graduated with a First Class Degree from the Royal Northern College of Music, under the guidance of Professor Helen Krizos. During her time at the RNCM, Gema had the opportunity to specialise in the Music Education pathway. Gema had previously finished her professional studies in piano performance at the Conservatory of Riba-roja de Turia in Valencia, receiving the End of Degree prize for her performance and academic achievements. She was also a student of Juan Lago during her early years. 

Gema currently enjoys a wide portfolio career, including music pedagogy, solo performance and accompaniment. She has led “Gema’s Piano Studio” for 7 years, and she continues to perform regularly around the UK, striving for unique storytelling through her programme choices. Gema is a piano tutor at the prestigious Yorkshire Young Musicians in Leeds Conservatoire. She is also pursuing her Masters in Piano Performance and Music Education at the RNCM from September 2025.

Gema has been fortunate to have obtained almost 20 prizes in numerous junior competitions and awards. Highlights include First prizes at the Concours Musical de France 2014 in Paris, First prize in the 2019 Amsterdam Grand Prize Virtuoso in The Netherlands, Bronze prize in the Asia International Piano Competition 2018 in Seoul, Korea, Third prize winner of the Sixth Catholic University of America Piano Competition in Washington D.C, Absolute First prize at the “Jóvenes valores valencianos” competition 2017& 2019 in Valencia, Spain, and Third prize in the Alion Baltic International Music Competition 2019 in Riga, Latvia. 

Thanks to the awards of many of these competitions, Gema performed at the world-famous halls Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Gema also made her orchestra soloist debut with the Riba-roja de Túria Conservatoire Orchestra at 20 years of age. 

In 2024, she was the first recipient of the Lucy Hale Award at the RNCM, which allowed her to own her first piano, kindly sponsored by Yamaha UK. When graduating from RNCM, Gema was also awarded with the Clifford Hartley prize for receiving the highest mark at the Piano Pedagogy course.  Gema is kindly supported by the FW Wright Piano Scholarship.