2018 Concert Series Messiah | Page 17

Elizabeth Lau deputy music director A graduate of the University of Auckland, Elizabeth Lau’s background is diverse. She holds a master’s degree in conducting as well as bachelor degrees in composition and performance including piano and double bass. Residing in Auckland, Elizabeth is the founder and music and artistic director of Wairua Sinfonietta, an orchestra which focuses on unity through music by putting on good quality concerts with like-minded musicians to increase awareness and raise funds for charitable organisations locally and around the globe. In 2017 she founded the Wairua Voices, a project choir which shares the same vision as Wairua Sinfonietta. In 2018, Wairua Sinfonietta has also launched the Wairua Projects Series, a series which includes the wider community to join forces through music, to achieve unity and influence society. She is currently the Deputy Music Director of Auckland Choral. Elizabeth also serves as the Music Director of the St Lukes Community Choir, a developing choir for all-comers which does project concerts. Elizabeth is also the Music Director of St Lukes Community Choir, a developing choir for all- comers. This year, Elizabeth has done some workshops for various choirs in the community including the South Auckland Choral Society and the Camerata Singers. She has served as rehearsal conductor for The Manukau Symphony Orchestra and Bach Musica. Elizabeth was invited to be on the adjudicating panel for the Asia Pacific Music Association annual competition. In 2019, Elizabeth will conduct the South Auckland Choral Society in their first concert of the year. In New Zealand, she has directed and conducted the School of Music String Orchestra and the University Symphony Orchestra at the University of Auckland. She was invited as guest conductor and assistant director for Bach Musica, performing multiple concerts with them. She has served as the teacher assistant in conducting study at the University of Auckland. Elizabeth was Music Director of MAA, a Chinese community choir; Co-director of an auditioned orchestra Sebastian Squad at St Cuthbert’s College; Artistic Advisor for the Mozart Orchestra, an Auckland-based community ensemble; Conductor of the Auckland Primary Principal Symphony Orchestra. She is a regular conductor and accompanist for the New Zealand Suzuki Institute, and was invited to conduct in the Suzuki International Conference Orchestra in Melbourne. Overseas, Elizabeth has conducted in Czech Republic, England and Switzerland. She has participated in various master classes with distinguished choral and orchestral conductors. A highlight in 2012 was her appointment as assistant conductor for the world premiere of LEN LYE the opera with music by Dr Eve de Castro-Robinson, a project under the auspices of the University of Auckland performing for a season at the Maidment Theatre, Auckland. Elizabeth holds a busy teaching studio, piano accompanying for instrumentalists and singers as well as chamber music coaching across the country.