1962 National Music Camp

Double Bass

AYO: 1962
AYO National Music Camp: 1962

It was during my high school years at PLC Pymble that I found an ancient double bass under the stage in the hall, and fell in love with it – gut strings and cumbersome bow included – and started lessons with the violin teacher at the school.

I was lucky enough to be awarded an orchestral scholarship to the NSW State Conservatorium a couple of years later where I had some beneficial (and often hilarious) lessons conducted backstage in Verbrugghen Hall, with Charles Gray, then principal bass of the SSO and formerly of the Boyd Neel String Orchestra. The conservatorium director, Sir Bernard Heinze, actually awarded me the scholarship in person, proclaiming that I was his ‘favourite lady double bassist’!

After leaving school I enrolled in a Diploma in Illustration course at the National Art School in Darlinghurst. Art had been my other passion in life from a young age. During this time I also continued to have bass lessons at the conservatorium in the evenings, attended AYO National Music Camps and was a member of AYO in 1960.

After graduating from the National Art School I worked in the animation industry at the very new and innovative Artransa Park Television Studios in Sydney. Later, I moved to London with my husband for a couple of years where we both worked on such projects as the animated film Yellow Submarine in Soho Square. I was involved in colour styling… my claim to fame being the Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds segment on which I worked extensively.

During the 1970s, 80s and 90s, I played as a double bassist in several local orchestras around Sydney, including Willoughby, Kuringai, the Western Symphonia, St Andrews Cathedral Orchestra and the Balmain Sinfonia. I also played in various musicals with many musical societies, including Chatswood, Willoughby, North Rocks, Sydney Youth, Hornsby, Asquith, Dural, Rockdale, Parramatta, Strathfield, Pennant Hills, and Castle Hill. I started performing with a half sized Czech bass, then changed to small German bass. This was followed by a much too large French bass until I finally settled on a wonderful half size 1870 German bass. 

I also taught double bass until I retired from teaching in 2016. Having retained my love of early music, I then turned to the cello which I play in two string quartets. I also play viol da gambas and recorders with various consorts.

During the 1980s I met Carey Beebe, world renowned Australian harpsichord maker and, on the spur of the moment one day, offered to decorate the soundboards of his harpsichords. I have since decorated about 20 harpsichords, including two for the Sultan of Oman, and now paint my own Australian designs on special order instruments. I also have a lovely Flemish harpsichord which I play… with mixed success.

I look back… and forward… at my life of music and art, which I still find are so extraordinary and fulfilling.

Cello

AYO: 1958-1962
AYO National Music Camp: 1958-1959, 1961-1962

I have no doubt that attending my first National Music camp at age 14 was the catalyst which launched me on the path to a career as a cellist. Being lucky enough to attend a school where music was really important, (they even had a full symphony orchestra), I was taken aback to find dozens of like-minded teenagers at my first camp and realized that I was only on the bottom rung of the ladder!

Inspired by older role models, more advanced students and the many wonderful tutors I encountered at Camps, I went home determined to work harder. The next year I was selected for AYO, and this was the beginning of a long and successful career as an orchestral and chamber musician, at first in Australia and then in Europe. For ten years I toured with my husband, Bruce Lawrence (viola) with the Deltic Trio, as section leaders of several Chamber Orchestras in the U.K., and as the lower half of a string quartet.

Returning to Australia I taught at Sydney Conservatorium and pioneered string programs in schools, as well as maintaining a very busy private studio. I have produced many very successful students and have been proud to send many to National Music Camp and to AYO. Both my sons also took part in these programmes, Adrian as a cellist and Julian as a viola player.

I was for 40 years a String Examiner with the AMEB, and Chief Examiner of Strings in the Education Department of NSW for 30 of those years. I am passionate in my commitment to seeing as many children as possible awakened to the world of music in their formative years. I have especially devoted the latter part of my career to this end and can number many professional cellists among my former students both in Australia and in Europe.

In the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours List I am proud to have received the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to music education.