ABOUT LOUISA LU

Louisa Lu was born in Edmonton, Alberta. She began her piano lessons with her mom at the age of three. Her previous piano teachers have included Maureen Goebel and Wolfram Linnebach, and she is now currently studying with David Tutt at the MacEwan University’s Alberta College Conservatory of Music. Louisa has taken violin lessons with James Keene, concertmaster (Ret.) of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and has been pursuing organ lessons with Dr. Marnie Giesbrecht, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta.  

​

Louisa holds a Bachelor of Science (Major in Biological Sciences, Minor in French Language and Literature) with Distinction and a Bachelor of Education (Major in Biological Sciences, Minor in Music) with Distinction, both from the University of Alberta. Louisa is currently in her third year of medical school with the MD program at the University of Alberta.

​

Louisa remains one of the youngest pianists ever to be awarded both the ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto) and LRCM (Licentiate of the Royal Conservatory of Music) in Piano Performance in the 134-year history of the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM). At only 13 years of age, Louisa was awarded The Advanced History and Theory Certificate with First Class Honors with Distinction from the RCM. She has been a member in good standing with the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association (ARMTA) since 2017 and has received the Canadian Federation Music Teachers Association (CFMTA) Certificate of Recognition for Professional Achievement.  

​

In 2014, Louisa was awarded the First Place and Grand Prize Winner in the inaugural Hailun’s Search for the Best International Piano Competition, a competition that spanned the whole of North America. Other music awards and achievements include the Mary Gardiner National Award for Performance in Canadian Music (2018); First Place at the Canadian Music Competition National Finals (2016); the Alberta Music Education Foundation Student Recognition Awards in Community Service and the People’s Choice Award for Best YouTube Video (2016); First Place in the Alberta Provincial Piano Competition (2016); the Northern Alberta Concerto Competition (2016); multiple First Places at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival; and three consecutive Gold Medals for the RCM Violin Examination for the Highest Mark in Alberta (2011-2013).

​

Besides her musical achievements, Louisa has found many ways to give back to her community as an active member. She has been volunteering regularly with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra (since 2012); Allen Gray Continuing Care Centre (since 2012); the Canadian Blood Services (since 2015); the Royal Conservatory of Music (since 2015); and the Strathcona Place Society (since 2015). More recently, she joined the Canadian Federation Music Teachers' Association (CFMTA) as the National Young Artist Chair. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, and her community service and leadership has garnished her outstanding recognition for her contributions. Louisa has received the City of Edmonton Youth Council Awards (2019); the ARMTA Community Service Awards: Gold Level (2016 – 2019); the National Philanthropy Awards (2016, 2017); the Edmonton Community Foundation Student Awards (2016 – 2021); the Jim Pattinson Horatio Alger Alberta Scholarship (2015); and the Edmonton Youth Excellent Awards (2010).

​

As a student at the University of Alberta, Louisa’s involvement with her campus community has been extensive. She has been a Program Ambassador at the University of Alberta Open House (2015), the Lead Photographer for the High School Model United Nations (2016) and has volunteered with the Interdepartmental Science Students' Society (ISSS) Interdisciplinary Science Competition (2016). Louisa has served as the Vice-President of Communications in with the Neuroscience Students' Association (2016) and is one of the founding members of the National Organization for Rare Disorders Students Association (NORDSA), where she previously held the position of Vice-President of Marketing, before stepping away after mentoring the next generation of NORDSA executives and being recruited by the Catholic Students' Association (CSA) as an Outreach Coordinator. Louisa also volunteers as a student tutor and mentor at high schools with the Golden Key International Honour Society University of Alberta Chapter (since 2017). Louisa’s list of impressive awards continues through her dedication and commitment to improving campus life, in combination with her outstanding academics. She has received the Irene and Jack Brown Scholarship from the University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (2024); Don and Norine Lowry Awards for Women of Excellence (2022); Justice Kevin Feehan Award from St. Joseph's College (2021); the Peter Lougheed Scholarship (2020); the Louise McKinney Post-Secondary Scholarship (2020); Dr. Gary McPherson Leadership Scholarship (2019); the U of A Students’ Union Coca Cola Student Achievement Award (2019);  the Education Students’ Association Citizen Award (2019); the Thirst 4 Knowledge Coca Cola Academic Scholarship (2016, 2019); the U of A Golden Key International Honour Society Chapter Award (2018, 2019); the U of A Students’ Union Involvement Award: Luke Jansen Performing and Visual Arts Community Award (2018); the U of A Undergraduate Academic Scholarship (2016);the William and Mary Hawrysh Memorial Leadership Scholarship (2015); and the U of A Academic Excellence Scholarship (2015).