Biography
Chau Luk has been Principal Viola of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra since 2004. Growing up in both Hong Kong and Shanghai, Chau studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and then earned a double major in both violin and viola performance at the Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts, as well as a Performing Arts Diploma from the University of Southern California on full scholarship.
Chau studied with the Concertmasters of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Toronto Symphony Orchestra and participated in masterclasses with Cleveland Symphony Concertmaster William Preucil, Boston Symphony violinist Marylou Churchill and acclaimed Russian viola soloist Yuri Bashmet. In addition to appearing regularly with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Chau has performed with Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra in Oshawa.
Career highlights include tours to Carnegie Hall and Detroit with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with violinist Nigel Kennedy under the baton of Sir Neville Marriner in Hong Kong, performing with Martin Beaver in Hamilton’s Chamberworks series and working under the baton of Maestro Charles Dutoit.