About our Founder, Elizabeth Morgan AM

Elizabeth Morgan AM was formerly Lecturer in Violin and Viola at The University of Queensland for 18 years and, for 14 years, was Adjunct Senior Lecturer in String Studies and String Pedagogy at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University where she continues as a part-time staff member. Born and educated in the UK violinist/violist Elizabeth studied at Trinity College of Music London with Jan Sedivka (Sevcik, Thibaud, Kocian, Rostal tradition) and was the British representative in Canada for the International Concours Jeunesses Musicales masterclasses with Henryk Szeryng.

Elizabeth is widely known for her contribution to the development of string teaching in Brisbane, Queensland and Australia. Formerly a member of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Mayne Quartet, the Mayne String Trio and the University of Queensland Sinfonieta, she has given workshops and lectures, and has toured throughout Queensland, Australia and the USA. She has toured twice to important centres throughout New Zealand and has remained a regular lecturer.

Elizabeth has received citations from the American String Teachers’ Association, “for outstanding leadership and service”, from the Australian String Teachers’ Association (AUSTA) Queensland, and from the Queensland Youth Symphony Council “for services to the orchestra in its early years”. In 1989 she was awarded The University of Queensland’s prestigious Excellence in Teaching Award, and in 2000, the AUSTA National Distinguished Service Award. In 2002 she was placed on the first Honour Roll of the International Viola Society, Australia and New Zealand Branch. In 2003 she was appointed as Federal Examiner (strings) for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). In Queensland she is an AMEB Senior Examiner, member of the Queensland State Advisory Committee and Chairman of the String Specialist Panel. She reviewed the complete Viola Syllabus for AMEB and has contributed to the development of numerous string syllabuses and Work Books for AMEB.

Elizabeth has undertaken projects for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), Youth Music Australia, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Australian Examinations Board (AMEB), the Australian National Academy (ANAM) and Education Queensland’s Fanfare Programme. She was a member of the founding committee for Musically Outstanding Students (MOST) programs for which she was advisor, conductor and tutor for many years. In addition she has pioneered numerous innovative string programmes throughout Queensland and regularly adjudicates throughout the country. Her initiatives include the National Youth Concerto Competition, the Taabinga Spring Music Festival, and Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra.

In 2001 she was responsible for bringing International Workshops for the first time in the southern hemisphere to Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, which resulted in the attendance of 500 national and international delegates. In May 2004 she was President of the Jury for the 11th International Violin Competition “Andrea Postacchini” in Fermo, Italy.

In 1975, Elizabeth became the founding president of the Australian String Teachers’ Association (AUSTA), a position she held for four terms. Through this organisation she brought leading string performers and educators to Australia, directly influencing the development of string teaching in Australia. Elizabeth introduced the first string pedagogy course into Australia in 1978 while lecturing at The University of Queensland. She has also presented the comprehensive string pedagogy programme at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, arguably the most comprehensive string pedagogy course available. She was a founding member of the International Council of String Teacher Associations (CISTA) and formerly Chairman of Dalcroze Council of Australia.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2013, Elizabeth was made a Member of the Order of Australia, for “significant service to music education, particularly the violin”.