Described as a “self-assured voice” (Barczablog) with a “masterful control over his idiom” (Classical Music Sentinel), Kevin Lau has established himself as one of Canada’s leading young composers. Awarded the 2017 Victor Martyn Lynn-Staunton Award by the Canada Council for Outstanding Achievement, Kevin’s music has been programmed and performed by a wide variety of ensembles, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Hannaford Street Silver Band, Niagara Symphony Orchestra, National Brass Project, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, TorQ Percussion Quartet, Via Salzburg, and the Afiara and Cecilia String Quartets. His 2014 orchestral work, A Dream of Dawn, was premiered by the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria; his orchestral tone poem Artemis will have its American premiere in November 2017 by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He recently composed the score for the National Ballet of Canada’s original full-length ballet Le Petit Prince (which premiered in June 2016), featuring choreography by NBOC Principal Dancer and Choreographic Associate Guillaume Côté. His second ballet score, Dark Angels, was commissioned by the National Arts Centre Orchestra for its Encount3rs project in 2017, and was described as “riveting” (Ottawa Citizen), “dark and affecting” (Globe and Mail), and “extraordinarily accomplished” (Artsfile). Kevin’s music has been commercially recorded on several CDs including: “Premieres” (Cambria Records) with violinist Conrad Chow, featuring Joy; “The Sounds of our Time” (Naxos Canadian Classics) with cellist Rachel Mercer and pianist Angela Park, featuring Starsail, which was awarded the Karen Kieser Prize in 2010; and the JUNO-nominated fusion album “Spin Cycle” (Centrediscs), featuring his Third String Quartet, performed by the Afiara String Quartet and DJ Skratch Bastid.

In 2012, Kevin completed his doctorate in music composition from the University of Toronto under the supervision of Christos Hatzis. He served as Composer in Residence for the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra (2010-12), the Banff Centre (2012), and was artistic director of the Sneak Peek Orchestra (with conductor and co-founder Victor Cheng) until 2014. He served as the RBC Affiliate Composer for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 2012-15.