Kai studied composition, choral conducting, and organ in the Doctor of Music Arts Program at the College-Conservatory of Music in University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He earned his Master of Music degree with the National Honor Society of Pi Kappa Lambda for music achievement from the Ohio University School of Music in Athens, Ohio.

Kai Lin began studying piano performance when he was seven years old. At age of tenth he was qualified and selected by the Primary Music School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music majoring in Piano Performance. He graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music (SCM), the Department of Composition/ Conducting, studied with famous composer/professor Chen Gang. Kai Lin was a lecturer in SCM from 1984-1990 and received the Excellent Education Award in 1985 for working as a piano accompanist in the Vocal Department. Kai Lin was an Adjunct Professor and University Accompanist at Elizabeth City Sate University, NC, and taught courses of Music Literature, Non-Western Music, and Piano Group Study; a teacher assistant for teaching Sigh-Reading/Ear-Training, Music Theory; Ohio University School of Music piano accompanist. Mr. Lin was also the Director of Music in Trinity Lutheran Church, Norfolk, Virginia, and a piano teaching teacher at St. Patrick School. Kai Lin is a member of the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), AGO (American Guild of Organists) with a professional certificate of CAGO, and MTNA (Music Teachers National Association).

Kai Lin’s main publications include CDs of Music Festival 2016, Kai Lin, Organ & Piano; Kathryn Kelly, Soprano (2017); CDs of Kai Lin’s Composition Concert (2016); CDs of Kai Lin’s Organ Improvisations, Op. 98 (2015); Kai Lin Selected Works for Piano Solo (Book I & II), published by Shanghai Wenhui Publisher, (2015). There are 21 scores of piano solo music; Kai Lin’s Piano & Music Selections, Reflection of Music Life, published by Shanghai Wenhui Publisher, (2015); CDs of Concert for 90th Anniversary of Church & Easter 2001, (2001) ; Kai Lin organized and conducted this excellent concert which include wonderful instrumental and vocal solo music, chamber music and choral music. Kai also performed C. M. Widor’s Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5, Op. 42 and L. Vierne’s Carillon de Westminster. Kai Lin’s choral music: Mass of Peace is successfully shown in concert; CDs of Bellissima! (2009) is a Bellissima Women Choral recording. The piano accompanist is by Kai Lin; CDs of KAI LIN (1998). This CDs selected his orchestral music, chamber music and electronic music.

Kai Lin's Composition Concert presented successfully in 2010 at Old Dominion University Recital Hall, Norfolk, Virginia. The program includes his piano solo, soprano solo, electronic music, Sonata for Horn and Piano, Opus. 55, Scherzo for Violin Solo and Piano, Opus 54, performed by Kai Lin, piano soloist; Yun Zhang, Associate Concertmaster of Virginia Symphony Orchestra; David Wick who was the Principle Horn of VSO; and Amy Rakowczyk who was soprano of Hawaii Opera Theatre. Mr. Lin's piano compositions have been very warmly received at several piano recitals. Piano solo pieces Toccata and Invention in C and Harmonic Dance were performed successfully by his students at MTNA, Students Honor Recital, Old Dominion University Recital Hall, in 2008. His Fugue For My Students, for Eight Hands on Two Pianos was performed by his students in Student Recital in 2004. His music compositions and recordings are published in USA and China. His Trio, No. 1 for flute, horn and cello was performed successfully in Music Ninety-Six Festival and New Music at CCM in 1996 at the CollegeConservatory of Music, Cincinnati. Arches, Op.4 for Orchestra was performed by the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra in 1993, and String Quartet, No.1 was performed at the Ohio University School of Music, 1992. Mr. Lin's symphonic poem Capriccio of the Yi Li Prairie (1989) by Shanghai Film Symphony Orchestra was broadcast nationally and warmly received by both audience and critics. Light Boat on the West Lake for String quartet (1980) and Electronic Music: Landscape of Lee River (1994) were showcased on recorded compact disc. His choral music Mass of Peace was performed at Corpus Christi Church, Dayton, OH and recorded in compact disc format in 2001.

Kai Lin made his organ and piano début in Cincinnati, OH, 1996. The program includes J.S. Bach's Fugue in G Minor; L.V. Beethoven's Piano Sonata, Op. 31, No. 1; F. Chopin's Etude No. 12 “Revolutionary”; F. Liszt's Liebestraum No. 3 in A flat Major; C. Franck's Prelude, Fugue and Variation, Op. 18; L. Vierne's Carillon de Westminster; C. M. Widor's Organ Symphony No. 5, Op. 42.