Yuan started taking violin lessons at the age of 5. In July 2001, a month after she placed first and second at the 8th Guangdong provincial violin competition in the Chinese piece category and for overall performance respectively. Later on she won first prize for all 3 awards at the 9th Guangdong provincial competition in 2004. In the same year, she came second at the national violin competition in both the Chinese piece category and for overall performance. She also secured first place at the Guangzhou city school competition in 2005.

It was during a concert performance in 2004 that Yuan, at 8 years of age was noticed by Mr.Lin Yaoji, an internationally renowned violin educator and a professor at China Central Conservatory of Music. Soon she became Mr. Lin’s private student and began training as a violin performer. On March 16, 2009 Mr. Lin Yaoji’s illustrious career came to an end as he passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Currently, Cherry Yuan is a student of Mr. Li Lin's at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In 2013, Cherry won First Alternate in the 2013 VOCE State Competition, First in the 2013 Pacific Music Society Competition, and First in the 2013 International Youth Music Competition by CMTANC.