Courtenay Cleary
violin
Donor: Ian & Cass George

Courtenay is a graduate of the Juilliard School in New York where she completed her Master of Music, and the Royal Academy of Music where she completed her Bachelor of Music with first-class honours. She launched onto the world stage in 2017 as a soloist for HM Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey which was broadcast live on BBC television. She went on to perform as a soloist at Wigmore Hall, Buckingham Palace, and the Lincoln Centre. Since her return to Australia in 2020, Courtenay regularly performs nationally with solo recitals in the QPAC Concert Hall, and concerto appearances with the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, and Corda Spiritus. She was recently named one of Queensland’s “40 Under 40” for 2024 by The Weekend Edition for her significant contributions to music education, artistic research, and the performing arts. She is a member of the violin teaching faculty at both the University of Queensland and Griffith University’s Young Conservatorium Programme. Courtenay recently submitted her Doctor of Philosophy thesis in contemporary violin music at UQ.