Jo-Anne

Foundation Years & Professional Biography

Jo-Anne began her music studies in piano, violin and choral music in Cairns.
Growing up in a relatively musical household – her mother sang with Cairns Choral Society, her grandmother was a pianist
– the formal introduction to piano studies began at the age of 7 under the skilled tutelage of Mary Corsetti.
At the age of 10, Jo-Anne was introduced to the violin, under long standing, respected Cairns teacher Margery Duffy (OAM) and her first foray into choral singing with the Cairns Junior Choral Society.
It was during this initial forging and development of her piano skills that an introduction began for Jo-Anne, to the inspiring music of the Australian composer, performer and pedagogue Miriam Hyde.

During her high school years, Jo-Anne developed her piano accompaniment skills
- not only as a rehearsal pianist for the Cairns Choral Society
- but also accompanying her fellow music classmates for various eisteddfods and instrumental exams.
Jo-Anne’s orchestral experience was also integral at this time of musical development as a member of the Trinity Bay State High Orchestra (Fanfare winners in 1988), continued involvement with the Cairns Youth Orchestra and further violin tuition under Stella Massey (OAM).
A further exploration of the piano music of Miriam Hyde continued over these more formative years.

In addition to this, her choral singing and violin studies saw her travel
with the Cairns Choral Society to Sydney to perform during the Sun Aria Competition
and Canberra, performing Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy Op. 80, with the esteemed Australian composer and pianist, Larry Sitsky.
It was this continued involvement with the Cairns Choral Society that saw Jo-Anne become involved in various musicals,
not only as part of the chorus, but in the pit Orchestra.

A tour across America in 1991 with the choir, further expanded Jo-Anne’s musical experiences,
a highlight of the trip being invited to observe a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.