Leone Stredwick | |
|---|---|
 Leone Stredwick c.1953 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Billie, Leone Myers |
| Born | 1928 Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 2004 |
| Occupation(s) | musician |
| Instrument(s) | piano |
| Years active | 1940s-1960s |
Leone "Billie" Stredwick (1928-2004) was an Australian pianist.
Leone Stredwick grew up in Grafton, New South Wales and studied piano at the Sydney Conservatorium at age 15 under Alexander Sverjensky.[1] She won the ABC's 1947 Concerto and Vocal Competition with a solo piano performance, and was a finalist for a Juliliard scholarship.[2][3]
She moved to London in 1948 for further study, after a scholarship was raised for her,[4][5] and toured England into the 1950s.[6] At 22 years old, she gave her first solo recital in England at Wigmore Hall.[7][8]
After returning to Australia, Stredwick performed solo and with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,[9][10] and made appearances on radio and television.[6] She returned to England again in 1961, but injured a finger while practising for a BBC recital and was forced to retire.[6]
During the 1970s she began performing again, but was diagnosed with a brain tumour that affected her manual dexterity. Once it was removed she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and retired once more.[6] She died in 2004 aged 75.[6]
While in London, Stredwick married Australian journalist Hal Myers in 1950.[6] They had been childhood friends,[11] and delayed their marriage so Stredwick could focus on her music career.[12] During the 1960s, they adopted two children Roger and Lucy, who both later pursued careers in music.[6]
Leone Stredwick's sister Maxine played cello,[13] and married a Dutch pianist.[1] Their mother Vera Giovanelli played violin.[13]