Suburb: North Rocks

Postcode: 2151

Studio Phone: 0439763810

Mobile Phone: 0439 763810

Email: kirtley.leigh@yahoo.com

Instrument: Viola, Violin, Musicianship, Theory, Audition, Tertiary

Qualifications: BMus (Honors) Performance Indiana University, Bloomington, Postgraduate Studies Indiana University,Dip AIMV, Dip Vienna MusicM, Diploma Pollensa Music,Diploma NFMC (USA)

Levels: Advanced students now being accepted for enrollment in new Kirtley Leigh Sydney String Academy - exclusive Private Studio opening in North Rocks

Fees: $100 hour/$50 half hour

State: NSW

KIRTLEY LEIGH (WALKER-HALSTEAD) B.Mus (Hons) Perf,  Diploma Academia Internacional de Musica de Verano, Diploma, Vienna Meisterkurse fur Musik, Scholarship Certificate National prize-winner, National Federation of Music Clubs (USA).

I am Kirtley Leigh (Walker-Halstead), a solo violinist, chamber music artist, recitalist, teacher and adjudicator. I have an international career spanning some 37 years. I am American born, dual National of Australia,and graduated BMus (Hons) from Indiana University Bloomington in 1983 as a student of the legendary violinist Josef Gingold. My past teachers have included pedagogues Dorothy DeLay and Josef Silverstein. I have had extensive coaching in Chamber Musi with the iconic Beaux Arts Trio as well as violinist James Buswell, cello maestro Janos Starker, and jazz legend Stephane Grappelli, amongst many others.

I have just been appointed as Violin Instructor at the prestigious King’s School, Sydney as Tutor in Violin, Viola, Chamber Music and Orchestral Coach. I am opening my new Studio here in North Rocks in March 2020 and now taking enrollments.

I  left my nearly-completed Master’s Degree in 1983 at 22 to accept the Associate Concertmaster position in the Hong Kong Philharmonic. I have lived and performed in over 23 countries since, including throughout Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia.  I immigrated to Australia in 2003 after a long career based in London UK. In 2004, I established my highly respected Chamber Music Series in Cairns, Paradise Concerts International Chamber Music Series. I have been Artistic Director since its inception, and performed for 16 seasons as solo/chamber music violinist in the series with wonderful music colleagues and friends whom I invited to Australia from my international associations.

I have performed onstage with, or for luminaries of all musical worlds, from Pavarotti and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to John Travolta, to Streisand, John Denver, Tony Bennett, Lynda Ronstadt, David Bowie, Prince, Diane Cilento, William Barton, and more recently, on stage in improv with Cieran Gribbon, lead guitar and vocalist of INEX. I have performed Command Performances for Heads of State, PMs and Royalty, including Tony Blair, Princess Diana, Queen Sophia of Spain, King Olav of Norway, Mahatmir Mohamed, PM of Malaysia,  Sir Michael Somare, PM of Papua New Guinea, Quentin Bryce, and Anna Bligh.

In addition to my Chamber Music Series, I also tour as soloist, and have a thriving Private Teaching Studio. Many of my students have gone on to major Conservatories and Orchestral positions in Australia and abroad, and one, Khalida de Ridder, is now a soloist based in Europe. I was Head of Strings at Jubilee Christian College, Atherton, Queensland. I also teach and perform on viola. I coach cello,  theory and music history when required.I have enjoyed a bountiful  career as a soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, teacher, orchestral leader, adjudicator and mentor. My teaching concentrates on intermediate to advanced levels,  through to Diploma levels, with particular emphasis placed on the higher technical and musical levels, preparation for Conservatory entrance, orchestral auditions, and recital coaching.. See my website for more info on how to join my Kirtley Leigh Private Studio.