Davis Tsai

Davis Tsai (蔡定揚) is a pianist whose musical journey reflects a profound intersection of discipline, family, and art. A native of Taiwan, Tsai’s upbringing was steeped in classical music, influenced by his father’s collection of Brahms and Beethoven LPs. He moved to the United States at age 12, eventually pursuing a dual path in medicine and music. While studying at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completing a fellowship in nephrology at UC Davis, he continued to perform chamber music and hone his craft. Though classically trained, Tsai maintains a deep affinity for jazz, particularly the "complex yet spontaneous" works of Bill Evans. His commitment to music extends to his family, where he has mentored his children—including violin prodigy Eric Tsai and award-winning pianist Elisabeth Tsai—performing alongside them in settings such as the Samford University Piano and Chamber Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. For Tsai, music is a spiritual gift intended to honor God and bless the community.