Joanna Lau

2018 Instrumental Scholarship Recipient

Joanna Lau is an aspiring classical flutist who has had a deep love for music since childhood. Her passion for music was ignited in 5th grade when her band director arranged Elgar's Nimrod for a symphony orchestra of elementary school students. Sitting in the center of that orchestra, Joanna was captivated by the swelling sound and felt as if she was flying. This experience left an indelible mark on her, and she knew she couldn't imagine her life without the presence of music. Since then, Joanna has embraced music wholeheartedly and it continues to bring her joy and a sense of beauty.

Joanna will be attending the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), a renowned summer music program for young artists. She is drawn to BUTI because of its prestigious student orchestra, chamber music program, and close connection with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. While the program's cost has been a barrier, Joanna believes that the experience and instruction she would receive at BUTI are invaluable for her growth as a musician. She hopes to work on the fundamental aspects of her playing under the guidance of BUTI's faculty and gain essential private instruction. Additionally, the intensive orchestral program would provide her with valuable experience as an orchestral musician, rotating through the flute section in weekly concerts and becoming more versatile in that role. The connections she would make with fellow students and teachers at BUTI would also be highly beneficial to her artistic development.

Attending BUTI would not only enable Joanna to learn and grow as a flutist but also give her the opportunity to collaborate and share her passion with other dedicated young artists. She is eager to immerse herself in the rich musical environment provided by BUTI and believes that the program would set her on the right path to achieving her goals as a solo and orchestral musician.