Jude Horrill – From Cello to Cultivation

A decade of lessons, orchestras and teaching shaped Jude Horrill’s musical life—and still resonates long after she sold her much-loved cello, ‘Grace’.

For Jude, CSM is not simply a place she studied — it is where her teenage years were formed. Looking back, her memories arrive as a rush: “Life forming, confidence building, skill building,” she says. “A wonderful way to spend my teenage years.”

Jude began cello lessons at CSIM, as it was then, in 1976, aged 12, studying with respected teacher Ellen Doyle. “I think I started my cello lessons with Ellen Doyle in 1976 when I was 12 years old,” she recalls, an early start that quickly became a defining commitment.

Her progress was swift. Working through the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) examination system, Jude achieved her LRSM at just 18, followed by an LTCL through Trinity College London — milestones that reflected both technical accomplishment and growing artistic confidence.

Across her 10 years at CSM, Jude’s musical world expanded well beyond the studio. She joined the CSM Christchurch Youth Orchestra, performed with Ellen Doyle’s 18-cellist ensemble, and later played in the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for around four years.

One performance stands out in particular: Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras Suite No. 1, played with the 18 cellists. For Jude, experiences like these weren’t just unforgettable, they were the training ground for listening, leadership and collaboration that professional music demands.

By the end of her time at CSM, Jude had moved into teaching as well, spending about two years as a cello teacher. This was an experience that helped cement her own musicianship. She left Aotearoa New Zealand in 1987.  Her final year connected with CSM, by then as a teacher, was 1986.

That foundation carried her across the Tasman. After leaving New Zealand, she completed a Postgraduate Performance Diploma in Australia, studying with cellist Christian Wojtowicz—an opportunity that marked the next step from strong local training to wider professional horizons.

Jude went on to play professionally for six years before moving into other careers. Even so, music remained close: for decades her cello—affectionately named ‘Grace’—travelled with her through life.

After 31 years overseas, Jude returned home and bought land near Levin, where she and her partner, established their current venture, Gourmet Mushrooms.  This has earned her the memorable description: “cellist and fungi farmer.” She sold ‘Grace’ only three years ago, closing one chapter while carrying its influence into the next.

Today, Jude’s story is a reminder of what CSM can offer young musicians: a place to build craft, community and confidence. “Wonderful memories,” she says—and the strength of that simple conclusion says everything.

April 2026