Frederick Lau, distinguished as the Chair of the Music Department, Professor of Ethnomusicology, and Director of the Center for Chinese Music Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, is an internationally recognized scholar. He is widely regarded as one of the leading scholars of Chinese music who has made significant contributions to the fields of ethnomusicology and the study of Western and Asian music on a global scale. His expertise spans a broad spectrum of music, encompassing performance, practice, and scholarly pursuits. Lau's remarkable accomplishments are evidenced by his extensive research, notable publications, prestigious positions, and numerous awards. Lau holds a master's and doctoral degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, alongside a post-graduate performance diploma from the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Lau has established himself as a highly esteemed flutist, recitalist, and conductor, captivating audiences across Europe, Asia, and the United States with his expressive style and interpretations of baroque and avant-garde repertoire. He has had the privilege of performing with esteemed orchestras and ensembles around the world.

Lau's scholarly achievements have garnered recognition through awards and grants from esteemed institutions such as the US National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Academy of Sciences, the German D.A.A.D. Academic Exchange, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Scholarship. He is the author of the widely acclaimed book Music in China (Oxford University Press) and has served as a co-editor for influential publications including Making Waves: Traveling Musics in Asia and the Pacific (University of Hawaii Press), Vocal Music and Cultural Identity in Contemporary Music: Unlimited Voices in East Asia and the West (Routledge), Locating East Asia in Western Art Music (Wesleyan University Press), and an upcoming volume titled China Sounds Abroad (Chinese University of Hong Kong Press). His scholarly articles have been featured in esteemed international journals such as Ethnomusicology, Yearbook for Traditional Music, and Asian Music. Additionally, his contributions can be found in edited volumes such as the Oxford Handbook for Chinese Music, China and the West, and encyclopedias like The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Lau also serves as the editor of the book series "Music and Performing Arts of Asia and the Pacific" at the University of Hawaii Press. Lau's professional affiliations include his former presidency of the Society of Asian Music and the Association for Chinese Music Research, as well as his roles as vice president and board member of the Society for Ethnomusicology and the International Council for Traditional Music. 

In recognition of his exceptional teaching, he has been honored with the Best Teaching Award by the College of Arts and Humanities and the Board of Regents at the University of Hawaii in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Prior to his tenure in Hong Kong in 2018, Lau held professorial positions at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and Cal Poly State University in California. Furthermore, he has served as a visiting professor at various universities in Asia and the United States, further enriching his international academic contributions.