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Yvonne Lau, piano
Yvonne grew up in a musical family and started playing the piano at the age of three. She has won numerous eisteddfods and competitions and has performed on many stages throughout her career, from the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House to the opening ceremonies of the Sydney Olympic Games to Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. She gained her Associate of Music and Licentiate of Music, Australia at the ages of 14 and 15 and her Licentiate of Trinity College, London also at the age of 15. Yvonne has been working as a freelance pianist, accompanist and chamber musician since graduating with a Masters degree from the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Barry Snyder. Prior to that, she completed a Bachelor of Music degree with Honours at Sydney University. A native of Sydney Australia, she taught at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney University, where she developed and taught a new Masters of Music program in Piano Pedagogy as well as teaching Harmony and Analysis, and Keyboard Harmony in the Musicology Department. Yvonne was on the Keyboard Staff of Knox Grammar School, Barker College, St. Aloysius College, and St. Ignatius College where she was Head of Piano. Yvonne made significant contributions to the music departments of these schools as teacher, performer, accompanist and mentor. Her students always perform very well at state & national exams and competitions, and are leaders amongst their peers. Yvonne has experience teaching both private and group lessons and has taught children as young as 2 to adults in her active piano studio. Yvonne is completing a PhD in piano pedagogy and music education. She has released a CD of Australian works, First Light, with the Fellowship of Australian Composers. Yvonne has also recorded for 2MBS-FM, Grevillea, and ABC-FM.
In 2005 Yvonne moved with her family to New York City & has been supporting her children in their music education as well as maintaining a large private studio. Yvonne is on the piano faculty at Third Street Music Settlement School and works as accompanist at Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School and Lucy Moses School. Yvonne is also a substitute teacher at the Juilliard School and accompanies at the Manhattan School of Music.
In 2015, Yvonne started a community concert series at Christ Church NYC that has been very successful and popular. She was the Children's Director from 2008-2019. Yvonne was also the President of the Parent Teacher Association at Special Music School, Fundraising Chair for many years, and a member of the Kaufman Music Center Gala committee since 2008. As a member-at large on the current Executive Board, Yvonne volunteers extensively and works hard to support music education in NYC.