Biography
Judith Whitaker was born in Lower Hutt 2-3-38. Educated Waterloo Primary School 1943-8, Hutt Intermediate School 1949-50, Avondale College, Auckland 1951-3. At age 8 taught self to read music and play piano. Formal piano lessons from age 13. Shorthand typist, wife and mother Auckland 1954-7, Napier 1958-73, Christchurch 1974-8. 1979-80 studied music at University of Canterbury. 1981-6 living with violinist Sydney Mann and undertook a concentrated short course of music study with him. 1984 music study at University of Otago, but discontinued through ill health. 1987 shifted to Christchurch, collaborating with and writing for violinist Mark Menzies. 1991 obtained own violin, experimenting with playing it. She has composed for a range of instrumental and vocal configurations.