Named by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) as one of "30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30", pianist Hamilton Lau is establishing himself as a promising, energetic, and dedicated musician. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University, studying with Jon Kimura Parker.
He has achieved awards from numerous competitions at the international, national, provincial, and local level. He won the British Columbia Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Piano Competition in 2024, the UBC Concerto Competition in 2022, the Canadian Music Competition in 2021 and 2019, and the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival in 2022 and 2018. Additionally, he received Second Prize at the 2025 Eckhardt Gramatté National Piano Competition and at the 2025 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition, as well as Second Prize and the Paul J. Bourret Memorial Award for Best Performance of the Test Piece (Du und Du by Strauss Jr/Dohnányi) at the 2022 Shean National Piano Competition. He also achieved first place at the Robert and Ellen Silverman Piano Concerto Competition, the Kay Meek Competition, the Phyllis Salter Piano Competition, and at the Bjorn and Lori Hareid Senior Secondary Competition, earned Silver Prize and the prize for the Best Performance of a Canadian Composition at the Vancouver International Music Competition, was selected as a semi-finalist at the 2022 OSM Competition, and received trophies and scholarships from many music festivals and competitions such as the Architecture of Music Competition, VWMS Bursary Competition, Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival, Kiwanis Fraser Valley International Music Festival, CDMF Performing Arts Festival, BCCM Music Festival, and the Pacific Youth Piano Festival.
Beyond competing, Hamilton has extensive experience in performing. Recent highlights include a seven-concert solo recital tour across British Columbia, Canada, a solo recital at the Fazioli Concert Hall in Sacile, Italy, and concerto performances with the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra, the UBC Symphony Orchestra, the UBC Chamber Orchestra, and the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra in halls such as the Orpheum Theatre and the Chan Center. As a passionate advocate for contemporary music, he frequently gives world premiere of new works (both solo and chamber).
Deeply committed to his growth as a musician, Hamilton has participated in masterclasses with artists such as Robert McDonald, Robert Levin, and Olga Kern, and has attended summer programs such as the Sarasota Music Festival, Gijon International Piano Festival, Scotia Festival of Music, Domaine Forget Academy, Orford Musique, and the Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice. Hamilton holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of British Columbia, where he studied with Corey Hamm, and gratefully acknowledges the support from the BC Arts Council.