Born in Taiwan, Ting-ru appeared as a soloist at the Malaysian Royal Gala Concert at the age of 16. She has won top prizes in the Queens Young Artist Competition, National Taiwan Viola Competition and is also a Laureate of the Windsor Festival International String Competition and International Viola Competition "Città di Cremona". She has performed as a soloist with Philharmonie Baden-Baden, Guildford Symphony Orchestra, Hsin-Tien Symphony Orchestra and Yu-Yun Youth Orchestra. Ting-Ru holds an Artist Diploma from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, and previously graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston and Mannes School of Music in New York. She has won top prizes in the Croydon Concerto Competition, Queens Young Artist Competition, National Taiwan Viola Competition and Guan-Du Rising Stars Competition.
Ting-Ru Lai joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2019. In August 2022, Ting-ru married the British violist, Timothy Ridout, with whom she frequently appears in viola-duo concerts.
