Born in Beijing, Dr. Cai received his early musical training in China where he learned to play the violin and piano. Accepted into Boston's New England Conservatory of Music in 1986, he earned his Master of Music degrees in both orchestral and choral conducting. In 1989 Dr. Cai was selected to study with famed conductor Leonard Bernstein at the Tanglewood Music Center, and won the Conducting Fellowship Award at the Aspen Music Festival in 1990. In 1998, he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music.

Currently the Director of Orchestras at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Jindong Cai's talent and courage have inspired virtually unanimous accolades from the Chinese and American press, as well as the public at large. Since arriving in the United States in 1986, Dr. Cai has received critical acclaim for his performances. He has held positions as assistant conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, working closely with conductors Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Erich Kunzel and Keith Lockhart. He also served on the faculties of the College-Conservatory of Music as Music Director of the Cincinnati Philharmonic Orchestra. In March of 1998, he led that Orchestra on a successful concert tour to Portugal, the only American orchestra invited to participate in the Cultural Festival of World Expo 1998 in Lisbon.

Jindong Cai's recently released CD with the Cincinnati Philharmonic Orchestra contains music by William Grant Still and other prominent African-American composers, and was reviewed as "a starling album, both for its professionalism and its sonic excellence." Dr. Cai is revered by conductors the world over for his ability and passion to lead. Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart says "Jindong is an excellent conductor, possessing solid musicianship and clearly communicative technique.it is my opinion that Mr. Cai has all the tools in place to be an exceptional conductor.

Dr. Cai has guest conducted the Arkansas Symphony, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Lexington Philharmonic, and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, and the Tucson Symphony among others. He maintains strong ties to his homeland and conducts several top orchestras in China including: the China National Broadcasting Symphony. The National opera and Ballet Theater of China, the Shanghai Symphony and the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony. In 1997, he conducted the Shanghai Symphony in the Chinese premiere of John Corigliano's Symphony No. 1-the first major contemporary American work ever performed in that country.