News

Welcome! This page is dedicated to the music of Kevin Lau. For quick access to audio recordings of Kevin's compositions, please check out the Audio Samples page. Be sure to check back for regular updates!

Upcoming Performances

• October 30, 2011, 3 pm - Edge of the Sky. Sharon Lee, violin; Peter Stoll, clarinet; Victor Cheng, piano. I will also be performing Prokofiev's Third Piano Sonata and my new arrangement of themes based on the Harry Potter franchise for piano, four hands, with Victor Cheng. Heliconian Hall, Toronto.



• November 4/5/6/10, 2011 (various) - Sea of Blossoms. Toronto Concert Orchestra (tour), conducted by Kerry Stratton. At various locations.



• November 5, 2011, 8 pm - Eagle's Ascent (world premiere). Mississauga Chamber Music Society, with Les Allt on flute / alto flute / piccolo. Unitarian Congregation, Mississauga.



• November 12, 2011, 8pm - Great North Overture. Hannaford Silver Street Band. Metropolitan United Church, Toronto.



• November 13, 2011, 3pm - Sea of Blossoms. Toronto Concert Orchestra (tour), conducted by Kerry Stratton. George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, North York.



• January 25, 2012, 7pm - Rebirth. Peter Stoll, bass clarinet; Angela Park, piano. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto.



• January 29, 2012, 7pm - Starsail. Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park, piano. Walter Hall, Edward Johnson Building, University of Toronto.



• February 4, 2012, 7:30pm - Foundation (world premiere). Rachel Mercer, cello; Sneak Peek Orchestra, conducted by Victor Cheng. St. Gabriel's Passionist Church, North York.



• February 25, 2012, 8:00pm - Starsail. Sarah Steeves, cello; Victor Cheng, piano. Gallery 345, Toronto.



• March 24, 2012 - Gates of Light. Ensemble Paramirabo. Montreal.



• March 29, 2012 - 12pm - String Quartet No.2. Ton Beau Quartet. Christ Church Deer Park, Toronto.



• May 5, 2012 - 8pm - Concertante (world premiere). Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Barnum. Hammerson Hall, Living Arts Centre, Mississauga.



• April 14, 2013 - 3pm - The Water of Life. Grace Hong, violin; Orchestra Toronto, conducted by Danielle Lisboa. George Weston Recital Hall, Toronto Centre for the Arts, North York.

Updates

• October 9, 2011 - It's been more than six months since my last update, and as usual, much to cover. All of my major 2011 compositions now have pages, including my National Arts Centre submission Prelude to Dawn, my latest orchestral work and doctoral dissertation The Shores of Light, and my most recent commission, Eagle's Ascent, composed for string quintet and solo flute (doubling on alto flute and piccolo.) Brand new audio excerpts have been added for a number of recent pieces including River, Edge of the Sky, Joy, and Artemis, and the audio page itself has been streamlined for easier navigation. What's there -- while still busy -- now represents a preferred sample of the total audio content on the whole site.

  There's nothing quite like the rush of hearing your work being performed for the first time....except the rush of hearing it being performed again! Over the next few months, several of my works will be given the "royal treatment." This November, Maestro Kerry Stratton and the Toronto Concert Orchestra will be taking my orchestral work, Sea of Blossoms, on a tour of five cities in and around the Toronto area, making it currently my most-played orchestral piece; meanwhile, the Hannaford Street Silver Band will be performing my (only) two brass band works, Great North Overture and Impressions. In January, cellist Rachel Mercer and clarinetist Peter Stoll (with pianist Angela Park) will be re-performing Starsail and Rebirth at the 2012 University of Toronto New Music Festival. But before that, I hope you will be able to join me at the Sneak Peek Orchestra's October 30 chamber concert, Up Close and Personal, where you will get a (rare) chance to see me in piano performance mode. See our orchestra's website for details.

  On the horizon are collaborations with Rachel Mercer (check back for an update about a certain Cello Concerto), pianists Mary Kenedi and Claudia Chan, and violinist Lynn Kuo. Stay tuned for news regarding a CD release with violinist Conrad Chow, as well as more updates with video, pictures, and more...it'll be an exciting fall!
  
  

• March 16, 2011 - A couple notable upcoming events: on March 26, the Mississauga Symphony will premiere my new orchestral work River. This is my first commissioned work as Composer in Residence of the symphony. On April 3 I will be presented with the 2010 Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music. The winning work (Starsail) will be performed by Rachel Mercer and Angela Park.
  
  
• December 1, 2010 - Hard to believe it's almost been a year since my last update! Check out, in no particular order: 1) highlights from my graduating DMA recital, 2) excerpts from recent recordings of Starsail (recently awarded the 2010 Karen Kieser Prize) and my Second String Quartet; and 3) a preview of the fantastic recording from the Nov. 6 Sneak Peek Orchestra performance of Artemis.
  
  
• January 12, 2010 - On January 23, 2010, the Sneak Peek Orchestra will be presenting its third independent symphonic concert, featuring the talents of pianist Zhenya Yesmanovich performing Rachmaninov's "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" and the world premiere of Aaron Tsang's new work, "Underheaven." We will be doing our first official CD Launch at this concert, featuring three of my works as performed by the Sneak Peek Orchestra, so be sure to check it out!



• January 12, 2010 - Experience a sneak preview of the high-octane, testosterone-driven soundtrack that is Genesis. It was a fun December...



• December 1, 2009 - Just completed preliminary edits to the first official "Sneak Peek Orchestra" CD recording, which will be released as a promotional fundraiser by January, 2010. Check out audio samples from Artemis and The Water of Life for a sneak preview of this amazing session. In the meantime, stay tuned for a *very* busy February (see concert schedule.)

For a full listing of past performances, check out the performance archive.