ABOUT
Joanna Lau is flutist, writer, and teacher based in the greater-Boston region. She currently works as an English and Writing Lab teacher at Lexington Christian Academy, as well as a flute teacher at Powers Music School. Joanna holds a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from Harvard College, where she majored in Neuroscience with a minor in English, as well a Master of Music in Flute Performance from Carnegie Mellon School of Music.
FLUTIST
Joanna aspires to breathe life and imagination into music both as a performer and a teacher, and she is passionate about sharing the enlivening power of music with others. As an orchestral musician, Joanna actively subs with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. She is also an Associate Member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. In her summers, Joanna has been a Flute Fellow at Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra, Music Academy of the West, National Orchestral Institute, and Round Top Festival Institute. As a solo performer, Joanna was a quarterfinalist in the 2025 National Flute Association Young Artist Competition and has performed with the Manhattan School of Music PreCollege Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and Island Symphony Orchestra as winner of their concerto competitions. A former recipient of the Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarship, Joanna enjoys giving back to the community through teaching and outreach performances.
Joanna recently graduated with her Master of Music at Carnegie Mellon School of Music, where she studied with Lorna McGhee (Principal Flute, Boston Symphony Orchestra) on a full-tuition fellowship. Her former teachers include Cynthia Meyers, Elizabeth Rowe, and Linda Chesis.
Joanna is a Wm. S. Haynes Young Artist.
WRITER
Aside from music, Joanna enjoys writing fiction and creative nonfiction. She was the 2nd place winner of the 2021 Cyrilly Abels Short Story Prize (for best short story written by a Harvard undergraduate) and a finalist in the 49th New Millennium Writing Award for Nonfiction. In 2023, Joanna had the privilege of attending NYS Skidmore Summer Writers Institute's advanced fiction workshop on a full-tuition scholarship. She has been published in Brooklyn Poets, Apprentice Writer, Chomp, Poetry Escape, and elsewhere.
TEACHER
Joanna is a passionate teacher who prioritizes guiding students while nurturing an enjoyment and love for learning. At Lexington Christian Academy, Joanna is on the English Faculty and has also previously taught SAT Prep (Math & English) and 8th Grade Physical Science. As a flute teacher, Joanna teaches at Powers Music School and maintains her own private studio.
Joanna is an experienced private academic tutor, having worked with students in English/Writing, college/application essays, PSAT/SAT Prep, and K-12 Math/Science.
Previously, Joanna worked as a Writing Center Tutor at Harvard University.
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