Queen’s Birthday honour list 2019: Denise Lawrence

IT'S been 70 years since Denise Lawrence picked up a cello and she has never looked back. Today, she receives one of Australia’s highest honours for her service to music education.

OAM recipient cellist Dwnise Lawrence pictured at her McMasters Beach home. Picture: Sue Graham

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IT’S been 70 years since Denise Lawrence picked up a cello … and she has never looked back.

The MacMasters Beach cellist has been a performer, teacher, examiner and now a mentor to many of her former students.

Mrs Lawrence has received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to music education.

“I’m absolutely overwhelmed, I had no idea it was in the pipeline,” she said.

Mrs Lawrence, who taught cello for 50 years, said the cello had given her a wonderful life. She came from a musical family with her grandfather in the first Sydney Symphony Orchestra formed in 1932.

Mrs Lawrence said her career commenced when she was just 14 and successfully auditioned for the Australian Youth Orchestra. After completing a scholarship at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, she travelled with her accompanist turned husband Bruce who played the viola and piano.

OAM recipient cellist Denise Lawrence. Picture: Sue Graham

It was in London where she studied under one of the world’s greatest cellists, and spent 10 years playing in orchestras.

When she returned to Australia she dived into education and, along with her husband, pioneered the method of teaching instruments in a group setting.

“That program is now in all private schools and most public schools,” she said.

She became a senior strings examiner and chief examiner (strings) for the Australian Music Examination Board. She described the job as very rewarding, not only examining children but writing syllabus.

“I have always been keen to make sure children get a good chance at learning an instrument,” she said.

“I love the connection and the fact that you can help a child develop their concentration and self-image by getting them to learn an instrument. I have a policy that every child learns at their own pace and every child deserves to learn.”

In 2015 she won an Australian Strings Association national award for the greatest contribution to string education.