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Proud to be Cornish, Judith was born in Camborne in 1941, educated at Truro High School, was a student at the Royal Academy of Music from 1959-1963, where she combined clarinet and piano as joint first studies, obtained the above degrees and diplomas, and switched to conducting and composition for her final year. Two chamber works received student performances, and in the early 1960s Malcolm Arnold conducted her first orchestral piece in Cornwall. This was closely followed by jointly winning a brass composition competition for Westcountry composers resulting in a performance in Exeter by Gabrieli Brass of London.
In order to earn a living she took a full—time peripatetic teaching appointment after leaving the Royal Academy, but soon realising she was not cut out for this work, she maintained her playing, conducting and composition interests and left school—teaching in 1971, never to return.
At about this time Judith became conductor of Southampton Concert Orchestra and Petersfield Orchestra. Both are appointments which she has now held for over twenty-five years, and have included the preparation and performance of most of the standard orchestral repertoire as well as number of new works. She has also worked as a choral conductor for 12- years.
From 1971 to 1993 she was invited to be on the staff of various further education colleges including Chichester College of Technology and South Downs College near Portsmouth. She has also been a Tutor for the Open University and Workers’ Educational Association. Much of her college and adult work consisted of the teaching of composition, directing ensembles and lecturing on 20th century music.
Since 1990's she has worked entirely as a conductor and composer and clarinettist. making frequent return visits to Cornwall which remains her chief inspiration for composition and painting, in which she has a lifelong interest.She is a member of the Cornish Music Guild, SPNM, COMA and the Composers’ Guild of Great Britain. She has received a number of commissions, and many performances of her music, both in the U.K. and abroad. Her music can be obtained in music shops, or directly from the appropriate publisher, or from the composer herself. (see the table above in compositions)
After 29 years as our conductor, Judith returned to her native Cornwall in July 2001 to take up work in that area. We wish her every success and happiness for the future.